CHARITY workers and volunteers are already reaping the rewards of a new Internet scheme dedicated to raising awareness and cutting costs.

On September 1, Newsquest Wiltshire launched its first free internet project CommuniGate.

Created specifically for non-profit organisations, the scheme targets sports clubs, village committees, schools, residents and housing associations, religious groups, charity organisations, youth clubs and Scouts and Guides.

So far, more than 60 such groups have signed up, stretching across the county and ranging from the virtually unheard of to branches of national charities.

CommuniGate has also had more than 22,000 hits in the last two months which shows how valuable and popular the scheme has become.

Those who join are given easy to follow guidelines on creating a website which caters for their individual needs, aims and goals by our very own web experts based at the Evening Advertiser office in Victoria Road, Swindon.

To help prospective members familiarise themselves with CommuniGate, a demonstration and two training days were held in July prior to its official launch.

Websites up and running range in size from just a single page to as many as six.

All include news flashes and contact details and many feature pictures, stories and links to other relevant sites.

Some groups have even opted to include an e-mail facility, message board and diary of events as extra incentives to entice internet users to log on to their site.

CommuniGate is easily accessed through Newsquest Wiltshire's internet site www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk. By going to the home page and clicking on the CommuniGate logo, visitors are instantly transported to the world of web creations.

The CommuniGate site contains simple instructions on how to get started as well as a brief description of what the scheme is all about and what it has to offer.

Organisations which have been the most recent to sign up include South Cerney Sailing Club, Swindon Golden Carp Angling Association, Gamblers Anonymous (Swindon), East Kennet Tennis Development Partnership, The Wiltshire Volleyball Association and the West Wilts Table Tennis League.

Members' internet abilities range from the web wise to the complete novice but all have been keen to explore their creative talents.

Newsquest Wiltshire's digital media manager James Trudgian said: "The whole aim of this project is to bring the community together more as well as helping groups to reduce their stationery costs.

"We have tried to make it as easy as possible with our step-by-step guide and we are sure it will make a huge difference, not only to our site, but to those organisations eager to spread the word on what they are all about.

"CommuniGate will be a great source of information for the whole of the county and you don't even need to have used the internet before to take advantage of it."

Click here for CommuniGate