The Smart Community Fife web portal was launched officially today at a celebratory event in Freuchie.

The work of local charity Smart Community Fife, the portal hopes to ‘knock the socks off' Howe communities by helping them stay better informed. 

The portal features a directory of over 690 local businesses and organisations, regularly updated local news items, a calendar of events, plus tourism, community, recreation and lots more information affecting a range of Howe communities.

Eleven communities currently feature: Auchtermuchty & Dunshalt; Collessie, Letham and Bow of Fife; Falkland and Newton of Falkland; Freuchie; Strathmiglo & Gateside, and Ladybank. There are plans to expand this to include more of Fife over the next few months and to develop additional on-line services in conjunction with Howe communities.

The portal project is being funded initially by Big Lottery in response to local feedback that revealed Howe of Fife communities were interested in embracing broadband technology and forming a 'Smart Community' within Fife. Howe communities are now looking to this project to improve their local, regional even global communications as well as enable their social and economic development.

Smart Community Fife Chair, Peter Winterborn explains, "The difference between this and other community websites, is our ambition to make the information entirely community-driven. That means the community will eventually provide their own content for their own benefit. And that's why we've made it easy for members of the public to post information on-line themselves, via a simple password process."

An on-line guide makes updating information on the site simple, even for those with little computer experience. Smart Community Fife is also eager to provide training for members of the community who would like to learn more.

Businesses and organisations are already making use of the free technology to stay in touch with their supporters and customers.

John Schofield of Strathmiglo United AFC updates the football team's page every week with fixtures, results and club news. "It's a great way for the Club to stay in touch with players, supporters, sponsors and members. Plus it's simple for me to change the pages myself meaning the information is easily maintained. It's not always cost effective for non-profit organisations like ours to create their own website, so this is the perfect solution."

The launch event at the Lomond House Hotel in Freuchie hosted around 60 members of the Howe community who were entertained by talented local musicians, the Early Learning Ceilidh band.

Howe of Fife businesses and organisations are invited to check they are listed in the portal's directory and contribute local news and events for the enjoyment of others. Everyone is invited to give their feedback on the portal at www.smartcommunityfife.org.uk.