01/08/2011 – Lasa’s rightsnet website wins major Nominet Internet award
Lasa, a social welfare rights and technology charity, was a winner at the Nominet Internet Awards 2011, which highlights UK companies, charities and individuals who are making a difference on, or through, the Internet.
Under the category "Opening the world of knowledge", Lasa took home the award for its "rightsnet" website. Rightsnet is an advice and information support service for UK frontline advice workers working with some of the most marginalised and disadvantaged communities. It provides thousands of frontline organisations, including Citizens Advice Bureaux, law centres and local authorities, with daily updates on the latest developments in social welfare law.
Terry Stokes, Chief Executive of Lasa, said: "We are delighted to have won this award. It recognises the hard work and expertise of the rightsnet team. We rely on the community of welfare advisers who share their expertise to make rightsnet so successful, so this award is also for them.
"At a time when vulnerable people are being hit hard by the recession, Lasa is delighted that our expertise in providing welfare advice support is being recognised. With unprecedented welfare reform taking place, as well as cuts to voluntary sector funding, rightsnet is a low-cost high-impact solution that enables thousands of clients to receive good quality advice and information."
The Nominet Internet Awards highlight organisations or individuals who have undertaken specific projects which raise Internet industry standards and showcase best practice. They were reviewed by an independent panel of judges chaired by the Rt Hon Alun Michael MP, and included Will Gardner, CEO of Childnet International, Dr Vicki Nash at the Oxford Internet Institute and Professor Sonia Livingstone from the London School of Economics.
The awards are run in partnership with the Nominet Trust, a body which supports initiatives that contribute to a safe and accessible internet. Along with the winners in the other categories, Lasa's project will now be showcased at the next Internet Governance Forum meeting in Kenya, and held up as a key example of Internet innovation from the UK, while bringing together, and improving, the global online community.
Notes to Editors:
For further details please contact:
- Paul Treloar, Head of Policy, on 020 7426 4484 ptreloar@lasa.org.uk or
- Liz Nightingale at liz.nightingale@freelancepr.org
1. Lasa is a leading charity and strategic provider of knowledge, support and resources to third sector and government bodies. Lasa helps thousands of organisations across the UK each year including Age UK, Shelter and Citizens Advice Bureau. It helps organisations to get better welfare rights advice to their clients; deliver more effective and efficient services; influences policy for advice and legal services; and raises awareness of the third sector's technology needs with funders and government.
2. www.rightsnet.org.uk is a Lasa service that gets millions of hits every month from advisers working in hundreds of organisations across the UK. It was the first second-tier website to be awarded the Community Legal Service Quality Mark standard for websites and is supported by London Councils (www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/grants). It has previously been funded by Trust for London, the Legal Services Commission, the Law Society Charity, the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales, the National Lottery Charities Board and the Community Fund.
3. The "Opening the World of Knowledge" category was run in association with the British Library. The award recognises organisations that are developing method of enabling internet users to benefit from increased online materials, knowledge and information.
4. The Nominet Internet Awards recognise achievements of organisations and individuals who lead the way to make the internet a more inclusive, enjoyable and safer space for everyone. The 2011 awards are in partnership with Nominet Trust, which supports UK internet initiatives that contribute to a safe and accessible internet, used to improve lives and communities. This year's awards ceremony was held at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London on 28 July 2011. For the full list of winners, commended entries and videos from the ceremony, visit the Nominet Internet Awards website.