Help find Britain's Digital Heroes!

What makes a hero?  Is it skill, ability or even agility?

We all have heroes.  It might be Nelson Mandela, Charlie Chaplin or Henry VIII, heroes come in all shapes and sizes.  TalkTalk, in association with Citizens Online and The Daily Mirror, have just launched the search to find this years UK Digital Heroes.

The awards will be given to outstanding individuals, working within UK community groups or charities, who are using the power of digital technology to implement bright ideas to bring about positive social change.  3 heroes will be nominated from each of the 12 UK regions and then in October, public voting online will begin to choose the winners.  At the end of October, 12 winners will be chosen, followed by one overall winner.  There is a total of £65,000 prize money for the winning websites and the awards will be used to fund both new and existing digital projects.  Applications are accepted until 30 September. 

The awards are now in their forth year.  Last years overall winner was www.swadforum.org, which is a Swadlincote and District 50+ forum encouraging older people to use the internet.  Organised by Gill Farrington, it bought laptops, took them into schools and helped pupils (aged about 14 and 15) teach older people the basics.  She found "once they have got over that they romp away.  The best thing is that it's the end of isolation."

Daily Mirror editor Richard Wallace proclaimed "technology changes, but values don't."  He said the Mirror was "proud to be a partner in the Digital Heroes awards, which reward the inspiring way people are using the latest technology to help others and each other." 

According to TalkTalk's communications director Mark Schmid, there's "a long way to go before everyone in Britain is benefiting from the digital revolution".  There are so many unsung heroes out there helping people get online and we want them to be acknowledged!  Why not nominate someone you think is an unsung digital hero?

TalkTalk loves the web and this isn't the only way they're putting their Promise into Action.  It's running an event in London for itea and biscuits (20th September) and has launched a fantastic section on its website to help you find you the best bits online.  You can discover its top 5 websites of the month, the best youtube watercooler moments and its digital anthropology report - are you a digital extrovert or a e-ager beaver?

We want heroes to come forward.  We're starting our own Digital Champions initiative.  If you or someone you know would make a great digital champion, let us know.