Google Earth now open to UK charities to promote their cause on

Google Earth Outreach, the search engine company's project that enables charities to use Google Earth to highlight their causes, is now open to UK registered charities and NGOs.

The programme aims to provide charities with the skills to use Google Earth and Google Maps to demonstrate and promote their work to some of the 350 million people who have downloaded the Google Earth software. Organisations can add their data and, by overlaying their content on Google Maps and Google Earth, create customised maps and virtual visits of their projects or areas of activity.

The programme includes grants for licences of the professional versions of Google Earth and the 3D-modelling software Google SketchUp, and video and text tutorials on how to use the programmes.

UK charities that are already using the tools include conservation charity Wildscreen and WaterAid.

In the UK the programme is open to organisations that are registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator or by the Inland Revenue.

www.google.co.uk/earth/outreach/index.html