Council and democracy

Croydon website wins international award

Talk2Croydon.co.uk has won first prize in the ICELE (international centre of excellence for local e-democracy) Organisational E-participation awards. This eminent award is given to the organisation who can show how, through engaging online, they have made a real difference to the communities they serve, from a change of services, to a change in policy, to the delivery of a new service.

Croydon Voluntary Action UK (CVA) manages the website in partnership with Croydon Council, Croydon Primary Care Trust and Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust. Talk2Croydon enables the people of Croydon to influence local decisions and raise issues they care about within the borough. It allows the local community to talk to the local public services without attending meetings or events, making it easier to get involved.

CVA chief executive Steve Phaure said: "We are absolutely delighted to have won such a prestigious award. Croydon is in the forefront of improving community engagement and Talk2Croydon is a very important tool for e-participation in the borough. Congratulations to the team for all their hard work."

Jon Rouse, Croydon Council's chief executive, added: "Croydon Council has supported the development of Talk2Croydon since the beginning as it reflects the importance we place on listening to local people. Working in partnership has created an excellent project that benefits the people of Croydon and receiving international recognition is a welcome bonus."

The ICELE awards are open to organisations and politicians worldwide and are judged by a panel of experts from ICELE's international advisory group which includes the Department of Communities and Local Government, the United Nations, the Council of Europe and the National Association of Secretaries of State.

The successful website can be viewed at www.talk2croydon.co.uk.