Nigel Evans, Member of Parliament for the Ribble Valley, yesterday attended the Talk Talk Digital Heroes Award Ceremony at the House of Commons, where Catherine Birtwistle from Billington received an award.
The TalkTalk Digital Heroes Awards, with Citizens Online and The Mirror and backed by Go On UK, is a countrywide scheme recognising people who harness technology to bring about positive social change.
The North West regional winner was Catherine Birtwistle, who has been awarded a £5,000 grant towards her project, and been given the title of ‘TalkTalk Digital Champion’. Catherine works with the Ribble Rivers Trust on the Ribble Life project, which explores different ways of engaging with people to help improve the water environment. One of the most exciting ideas to come out of the project has been the ‘Ribble Way QR Trail’, which would allow anyone with a smartphone to access information about the river as they walk the Ribble Way, one of the North West’s most used footpaths. If successful, the funding will be used to turn this idea into reality. It will help to educate people about wildlife and habitats, raise awareness of issues that adversely affect rivers, encourage people to take better care of their environment and promote more active lifestyles.
Speaking from Westminster, Mr Evans said:
“I was delighted that Catherine has won this esteemed award. The hard work that she does is both admirable and inspiring. It’s so important that people contributing to such worthwhile causes are credited and acknowledged for what they do to help their local community.
“Technology and the digital revolution can be harnessed as a force for good, for education and for bringing people and passions together. Catherine’s project represents all of those ambitions and I sincerely hope that this funding helps her to achieve those goals.”