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Bridgend community transport charity receives Welsh Government support for online marketing(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) A Bridgend community transport charity, OTED Transport, has received a package of support from Communities 2.0, the Welsh Government's digital inclusion programme. The support will help the organisation to grow and develop its website and online marketing. Communities 2.0 is a Welsh Government programme which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Communities 2.0 has provided OTED Transport with technical expertise and advice and will train staff members in using new software such as Sage, as well as help them develop a new website which will be designed to more effectively promote their services. Communities 2.0 has supported the organisation with an investment of just over 2,000, which will be used to purchase new software and develop the new website. OTED Transport is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. It is the only provider of community transport services to residents in Bridgend County Borough. It operates a fleet of over 14 vehicles and undertakes over 27,000 passenger journeys per year and employs 19 staff and six volunteer drivers. Kerry Lane is Business Development Manager for OTED. She commented, "Not only are we delighted at being notified of the success of our application, but we have been really impressed at the depth of knowledge, expertise and professionalism of Communities 2.0 officers. We have no doubt that their extremely thorough ICT review and also guidance during application phases, has ensured we will have the ICT infrastructure we need to meet our charities future growth and consolidation plans." Communities 2.0 project director Cathryn Marcus commented: "Communities 2.0 is delighted to be able to add its support to this timely investment in OTED Transport. The charity offers an essential service in the Bridgend Borough and this investment will help the organisation to promote its services across the borough." Communities 2.0 Communities 2.0 is a Welsh Government programme and is part of the Delivering a Digital Wales strategy. Communities 2.0 is delivered by four partner organisations - the Wales Co-operative Centre, Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services, Carmarthenshire County Council and the George Ewart Evans Centre for Storytelling (University of South Wales). This investment is just part of a total of over 3.9m invested across Wales. To date over 570,000 has been approved for direct investment in social enterprises and micro businesses in Wales, supporting 112 enterprises. In addition, Communities 2.0 has supported 314 enterprises with significant assistance and advice for adopting or exploiting Information Communication Technology. Over 358 community groups and organisations have also benefitted from significant assistance and advice from the project, many of whom have used this to inform the creation of new social enterprises. www.communities2point0.org.uk . (c) 2014 M2 COMMUNICATIONS |