The idea

A website combining web 2.0 applications such as personal profiles, wikis, discussions, forums and blogs, with an interactive map (like GoogleMaps), to enable third sector leaders and social entrepreneurs across Europe to create their own profile, share good practice, find potential partners and learn about funding opportunities and relevant service providers.

The website will include a directory of potential funders and service providers, expanded case studies of social innovation will be highlighted and shared, and online events and live discussions will be held. All information will be accessible through the map via a series of filters and search tools.

What social need does it address?

This website will address the need for a more professional, connected and innovative third sector, which in turn will address every social need that is being addressed by the sector.

What’s new about it?

This website will combine interactive maps with a wide range of relevant information and a series of search filters, which has never been done before.

The focus on professionalism and innovation is still relatively new for the third sector and we hope to increase the awareness of the importance of these two concepts. Another new feature is that this website will work alongside Euclid Network, which is the first and only pan-European leaders’ network for the third sector.

What inspired you?

It is often argued that with the information revolution, geography is increasingly irrelevant. However we believe that geography remains of crucial importance, and want to develop a web-platform which would combine geography and information in an innovative and sophisticated way. The best way to do this is to use an interactive map as the core of this new website.

Idea submitted by Ben Rattenbury

Ben is the Projects Officer for Euclid Network, the European network of third sector leaders.