Got a life changing tech idea? Nominations are open for the AbilityNet Tech4Good Awards 2017

Nominations are now open for the AbilityNet Tech4Good Awards 2017 - an annual showcase for the amazing people who use digital technology to make the world a better place. And, this year will be the first time that the awards include an Africa Award, sponsored by Comic Relief.

Organised by AbilityNet and sponsored by BT, these are the only awards to highlight the wealth of charities, businesses and volunteers across the UK that use the power of technology to improve the lives of others.

The AbilityNet Tech4Good Awards 2017 categories are:

AbilityNet Accessibility Award

BT Connected Society

BT Young Pioneer

Comic Relief Tech4Good for Africa Award

Community Impact

Digital Health Award

Digital Skills Award

Tech Volunteer of the Year

Anna Easton, Director Sustainable Business at BT said at the launch this morning, held at the BT Tower, London: "Over the last six years we've been amazed at how innovative people can be, and the incredible power of communications to make a better world".

The new Africa award reflects the growing number of entries in past years from tech projects developed for Africa, including last year's BT Young Pioneer Award winners eWATERPay - a system which checks when water pumps installed in African villages need maintenance. 

Tech4Good diary dates

2017 entries are open until 5pm on 8 May and anyone can nominate themselves or someone else in any of the categories.

There will be a networking event for finalists on 13 June and the winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony hosted by BT on 11 July at BT Centre, London.

Judges include business people, charities, academics and journalists and others with specialist knowledge of how technology is used for social good.

Mark Walker, organiser of the awards and AbilityNet' Head of Marketing and Communications, said: "These awards celebrate winners' success and share their stories to inspire others, while recognising entrants' hard work and creativity. Winners have included everything from a kit that helps people with asthma to understand, diagnose and medicate for the condition, to an app that allows sex workers to alert one another of dangerous perpetrators of crime.

To enter the awards visit: www.tech4goodawards.com

To see previous winners: www.tech4goodawards.com/winners