A PROJECT that helps community groups build their own website free of charge has been praised by a government minister.

Redcar and Cleveland MP and Minister for the Cabinet Office Mo Molam has offered her congratulations to The Northern Echo and The Clarion for introducing the CommuniGate service.

She said: "I congratulate The Northern Echo on the successful introduction of its CommuniGate initiative, which I believe will bring a valuable service to individuals, non profit-making groups and charities throughout the North-East.

"In our society, which is increasingly influenced by information technology, CommuniGate gives a voice to those who are involved in voluntary work.

"The scheme allows sports clubs, schools, charitable groups, residents' associations and other non profit-making organisations to develop valuable IT skills by building and maintaining a website for their group using software specially designed for first-time web-builders.

"I hope that this major investment in local communities by The Northern Echo will be supported by the local business community."

CommuniGate is a free service for non-profit groups, clubs, charities and schools.

Through CommuniGate, they can build and manage their own internet sites absolutely free.

So far more than 300 sites have been built by groups including adult education services such as LEAP, religious groups such as the Christian Friends of Israel and interest groups such as the Stockton Male Voice Choir.

Another site is dedicated to historical walks in East Durham and others to creative writing.

Alison Nicholson, community web editor at The Northern Echo, said: "We have had almost 30,000 page views on the CommuniGate environment.

"We would be delighted to hear from those wishing to build a site, we have a variety of resources we can help people with."

Within CommuniGate, groups can create up to ten news and information pages, with pictures, add e-mail forwarding, a message board, links page and contact details.

Anyone interested in participating should visit the CommuniGate site via

www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk or contact Alison Nicholson, on (01325) 505270;

email: communit