MP Sir Alan Beith urges local middle schools to help the community get online

2.00.00pm GMT Fri 12th Feb 2010

MPs and e-skills UK have launched the fourth year of the Make IT Happy competition, a UK-wide technology challenge for primary school students aged 9 to 11. The competition is run by the Parliamentary Information Technology Committee (PITCOM) and e-skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for Business and Information Technology. It is backed by more than 80 MPs from across the UK.

The Make IT Happy competition gives students a chance to work together to come up with creative technology projects which will have a positive impact on their local community.

Make IT Happy 2010 has the theme of 'Get Your Community Online'. A panel of judges will be looking for imaginative, pupil-led initiatives from schools showing their communities how to make use of the exciting possibilities of the internet. 10 million people in the UK have never used the internet, meaning 16% of the population are missing out on all of the social and economic benefits it brings.

£1,200 will be awarded to each of the regional competition finalists with the overall winning school taking home an additional cash prize of £4,000. Winners will also be invited to attend an awards ceremony to be held at the Houses of Parliament in London in October.

Sir Alan Beith, MP for the Berwick upon Tweed constituency, hopes local middle schools will get involved. He said

"The competition offers a unique way for schools to do something good for the community. Most young people have grown up with technology, so they're well placed to pass on their knowledge to help improve the quality of life for many local residents who lack experience of using the internet.

"As well as the cash prizes on offer, I'm confident that pupils will enjoy the chance to work together on such an exciting and relevant project. Entries should be as imaginative as possible in order to capture the attention of the judges.

"The competition is all about giving young people a chance to use their imagination, creativity and technology skills and show how IT can make a difference to the world around them."

The closing date for entries is 31st July, 2010.

For further information and details of how to enter, visit the website at http://makeithappy.cc4g.net/

The Parliamentary Information Technology Committee (PITCOM) provides a forum for MPs, Peers, senior civil servants, academics and ICT professionals to exchange information and opinions. It has evening meetings in a Committee Room of the House of Commons on the policy implications of new technologies, and holds receptions and an annual dinner in the House of Lords. The Committee also provides in-depth briefing papers for Members of Parliament.

e-skills UK is the Sector Skills Council for Business and Information Technology, rated 'outstanding' in the relicensing of Sector Skills Councils in 2009.  We work on behalf of employers to ensure the UK has the technology skills it needs to succeed in a global digital economy. Our work covers software, internet & web, IT services, telecommunications and business change.

Find out more at www.e-skills.com