Communities and voluntary groups in Shetland are being encouraged to sign up to a new on-line service which promises to give them their own gateway to the internet.

The £63,000 Shetland Community Portal is a new website at www.shetlandcommunities.org which has been funded by Shetland Enterprise, the European funded LEADER+ programme, Communities Scotland and Shetland Council of Social Service.

It is linked to Shetland Islands Council's on-line community directory and aims to provide a web-based source of information for local groups and organisations on a wide range of topics from setting up and running a community group, to legal and insurance requirements and fundraising.

For a nominal fee of £50 per year, community groups can also develop their own websites for inclusion in the Shetland Community Portal. Groups receive their own dedicated web space, web address and training on how to construct, manage and edit their own website. Shetland College will also be able to deliver short training courses in the use of the portal at learning centres in Unst, Whalsay, Brae, Aith and the Ness.

Katrina Wiseman from Shetland Enterprise said: "Encouraging communities to make more use of the internet helps them to share information, attract and inform new members and organise and publicise events in a way that saves time and expensive resources. It also helps people develop their own information technology skills.

"These benefits will in turn help strengthen community leadership, participation and confidence. It will also help Shetland develop its own global presence by informing people across the world of what Shetland has to offer."

As the site grows, a wide variety of information and data will be added providing a valuable one-stop-shop resource for Shetland residents and visitors alike. This may include access to a local events calendar, transport timetables, benefits and weather forecasts amongst others.

The project has been developed in partnership with Shetland Enterprise, Shetland College, Shetland Islands Council and the Shetland Council of Social Service who manage the project.

Community portal development worker Paul Kelsall says: "The website will become a key mechanism for developing high-value community enquiries, supporting community processes and developing the communities' brand and reputation.

"It will also become a key resource for stakeholders in Shetland who can keep themselves up to date with what's happening with community groups across the area."

The Shetland Befriending Scheme is one of the first organisations to make use of the new portal. Befriending project co-ordinator Lynn Dalziel said: "The portal will be of great benefit for potential volunteers and clients accessing and downloading information about the scheme and we hope to develop on-line training for those who live rurally and who cannot access the group training we do."

For further information about the Shetland Community Portal either log on to www.shetlandcommunities.org or contact Shetland Council of Social Service on 01595 743900 or email SCSS@shetland.org