Ican

ICAN - the BBC's civic participation project - aims to help people take their first steps to address local issues that they care about. Through the project's site, people can find information about issues, make contact with interested neighbours, share experiences and also use the site to start a campaign.

The iCan project is run by the BBC. It is working within the Local eDemocracy National Project, funded by the ODPM, to explore opportunities to build civic participation locally. This means encouraging more people to get involved with their representatives, with their Council and with their neighbours. Stroud is part of this National Project, working in partnership with the BBC over the iCAN project.

iCAN specifically targets people who are not currently active citizens - they may not know what to do or where to go to raise concerns about their issues, and they may feel that they are alone in their situation.

"There is a connection waiting to be made between the decline in democratic participation and the explosion in new ways of communicating. We need not accept the paradox that gives us more ways than ever to speak, and leaves the public with a wider feeling than ever before that their voices are not being heard. The new technologies can strengthen our democracy, by giving us greater opportunities than ever before for better transparency and a more responsive relationship between government and electors" - Robin Cook MP

"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any." - Alice Walker

As part of this project, Council officers and Councillors, as well as the general public can contribute, so tapping the wealth of knowledge which exists within the local area. This will benefit those living within the Stroud District Council area as well as anyone who has similar concerns elsewhere in the country.

Please visit the BBC iCAN website for further information.