CHARITIES, organisations and individuals in Clevedon could soon benefit from donations of time and money from local businesses thanks to an innovative new scheme.

Triangle Telecom, a family-run company based in Clevedon for 10 years, has developed an idea in the hope of encouraging more people to use the town’s shops and, in return, the traders will give some of their time or money to a local good cause.

Called CommunityConnect, the scheme will see businesses encouraged to offer exclusive discounts and deals only available to customers using the project’s website, where their products or services will also be advertised.

On that same website, visitors will be able to recommend people, organisations or projects in Clevedon which could benefit from the resources donated.

The project, which was the brainchild of Ed Dench at Triangle Telecom, will also see a free public wifi network set up in the area around The Triangle and Queens Square.

This will allow people shopping in the town centre to use their smart phone to see what deals nearby businesses are offering through CommunityConnect.

The wifi will also allow people to browse the internet for any other use. This network could later be extended to other areas of the town.

Ed came up with the project idea after first discussing the possibility of setting up a free wifi network in Clevedon. He is now looking for businesses to sign up to CommunityConnect to make it a success.

He said: “It grew and developed through many different stages and we have come out with a model which is realistic and is something I can get businesses on board with.

“The idea is the money or time goes out to the people who need it locally. In return, the businesses receive advertising.”

Paul Anslow, director at Triangle Telecom, said: “Clevedon is a hotbed of business.

“All we’ve got to do is give a little bit of effort, then our micro-economy has the chance of being as successful as neighbouring towns.”

As part of the launch of CommunityConnect, a grand prize draw will be held in time for Christmas with one lucky person set to win a whole host of prizes donated by participating businesses. Triangle Telecom also hopes to run similar draws on a regular basis to keep interest in the project alive.

If CommunityConnect proves a success in Clevedon, it will be rolled out to Nailsea and Portishead, which would also benefit from the creation of a free, town centre wifi networks.

In Clevedon, the three main causes which will be regularly supported through CommunityConnect will be Clevedon Pier, The Barn youth centre and the Curzon cinema.

To find out more and make recommendations for other good causes, visit the website at www.connectingthecommunity.co.uk

Tickets for the prize draw, priced �5, can also be bought from the website.

Any businesses wishing to get involved should contact Ed Dench on 07585 792772 or email him at ed.dench@triangletelecom.co.uk

* The Times has teamed up with Triangle Telecom to support the CommunityConnect project and promote the good deeds being done by businesses in the community as part of the scheme. We hope to feature reports and updates on a regular basis to raise awareness of the help being given to good causes in our area.

To join a discussion about the CommunityConnect project, you can do so by visiting the social networking site www.streetlife.com and typing in your Clevedon postcode.