Communities throughout Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey can now tap into a new resource aimed at boosting communications and involvement in local projects - a new website which has been set up by the Local Enterprise Company to help people throughout the area support and learn from each other.

www.communityhelpline.net is the brainchild of Moray Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise (MBSE) and is intended to complement the network of community agents already out working in communities throughout the area.

Those logging-on to the site will find a wide range of information, both at a general and local level. For example the general sections, applicable to all the communities, include information on how to access funding for projects; details of new policies or programmes which could affect communities; and a 'chat room' allowing people to communicate with each other.

The local sections, which can be accessed by 'clicking' on the relevant part of an area map, will include information more tailored to that individual community's needs, such as details about the area itself and a rundown of local groups and events.

The website will also feature case-studies highlighting the successes of groups in the MBSE area. This means that other people, looking to undertake similar projects can 'learn from the mistakes' of others and also adopt examples of 'best practice'.

MBSE chief executive Douglas Yule said: "A website like this has the potential to be a valuable tool for communities throughout the Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey area. This is a wide and diverse area, where face to face communications between local groups and associations can be difficult to organise - yet people could learn a great deal from each other's experiences. This is where we hope the website will come into its own, helping people become more involved and aware of community development projects and issues."