Calling social technology ideas

Back in April, we were the media partners for the Social Innovation Camp, a weekend of talking and hacking technology ideas with a social purpose.

Plenty of coverage back in our conference archive, which runs through each of the projects including RateMyPrison, which eventually won; the idea is to offer a support site for the families of prisoners, making it easier for them to arrange transport and give feedback to the help and support they receive from each prison. This is not the glamourous end of technology, but it is the part that can really make a very big practical difference to people's lives. (bear in mind this was an idea built by seven people in two days, so it is early days.)

On a rather grander scale are the UK Catalyst Awards, billed as 'the community awards for social technology'. The idea is the same - technologies that help people connect and communicate with their community, and provide a useful, socially beneficial service.

Backed by the Prime Minster, no less, as part of the Council on Social Action, the awards are sponsored by Nesta, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and Arts, and the government's Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, or BERR.

A few case studies set the scene. - now 11 years old - connects people who need lifts with people who offer them. The Nag emails users once a month, pestering them with one simple way they can make their lifestyle more sustainable. And School of Everything matches mentors with people who want to learn.

If you want to enter, you don't have to have any experience other than having a cracking good idea. But you do need to put your entry forward before June 16.

The entry page gives a good idea of the kind of ideas they are looking for; one category is for the David and Goliath award - "for something little that made a big difference to something powerful and big", while another is the Chalk & Cheese award - bringing two different groups of people together.

The prize is little more than glory, and that warm fuzzy feeling from knowing you've helped do something good.

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