WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

We’re looking for inspiring stories of people who help their community by using social technology* in new and exciting ways. Can you or someone you know show how technology is already enabling people around them to connect with each other in new ways and do good things?

We’re especially interested in ideas that other people or groups might be able to use for themselves. With the right support, could your idea be reused throughout the country – or even the world?

The community you help might be people in your area, or people you know through your hobby, interest, work or any other connection. It might even be people you didn’t even know before you started!

You might have used an existing social technology or product in a new way, or you might have created a new one from scratch.

Click through to our case studies to see some of the ways other people are using and creating social technology.

*Social technology means any internet, mobile or gaming software that lets you connect and communicate with other people. Examples are text messaging, social networking (e.g. Facebook, MySpace, Bebo), blogging, and so on.

WHO CAN ENTER?

Every UK resident can enter. Your idea must benefit a UK, or predominantly UK-based community. You can enter for something you did on your own, or as part of your work for a business, charity, community group or other organisation.

If you’re entering for something you did in business, the business must have fewer than 5,000 employees.

If you’re entering for something you did as part of a business or organisation, be sure to get the agreement of the business or organisation to enter, and acknowledge others who helped you in your application. Groups should select a "team captain" to make their entry.

WHO’S BEHIND THE AWARDS?

These awards were announced last July when Prime Minister Gordon Brown started the Council on Social Action.

It was decided that Social Technology was a key part of positive social action in the UK.

The awards are sponsored by NESTA, National Endowment for Science, Technology and Arts and BERR, the government’s Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

They are coordinated by Make Your Mark, the national campaign to unlock the UK’s enterprise potential, working with Polecat who help businesses and organisations measure their social impact and Colman Getty, a leading UK independent PR consultancy. The awards are supported by Unltd who support social entrepreneurs.

WHAT WOULD I WIN?

Apart from the chance to promote your idea and see it adopted by others, you’ll get invited to pitch your idea to judges, compare notes with fellow finalists, and meet other interesting people, like the folks from Unltd, the charity that helps social entrepreneurs.

Finally, you’ll be invited to an award ceremony where your work could be recognised as the best in the country.