New website aims to become Wharf social hub

The New Providence Wharf resident hopes it will grow to be a genuine rival to the big boys of the networking world.

Rebecca, 32, works for Docklands-based web design company Contasta and she has used her expertise to create the new site. She explained what inspired it.

She said: "I was a member of the Docklands Sports and Social Club which was a great online community. Unfortunately it closed down last year and since then I've been a bit lost.

"It can be difficult to meet people in Canary Wharf because everyone either rushes home or goes out in groups from work. What I want is for this website to give people the opportunity to organise social events and actually get out and meet new people.

"I work with computers all day and I like the idea of being able to meet people in the real world, not just the virtual one."

Besides designing the website and uploading most of the content Rebecca - who has a degree in software engineering from the University of East London - has also been busy marketing it, spreading the word among businesses and residents.

Around 180 members have joined so far and she hopes they will be the first of thousands to benefit from a service she claims is better than Facebook.

As well as the expected chat capabilities there is a service section, where members can find any type of business they might need, from plumbers to design companies, with recommendations from other members. Rebecca hopes the services will encourage people to sign up.

She said: "The sky's the limit for membership. The more the better, really. I'm hoping the old members of the DSSC will join but everyone is welcome. It's absolutely free and always will be and it's very easy to use.

"It's a service like Facebook but with far more functions. There's a forum and blogging facilities and also an instant messaging service so you can chat to people very easily. You can even upload video if you want.

"Facebook is good but it is limited, mainly because people talking to each other live a long way apart. The idea with CWSL is to give people the opportunity to arrange events in the area because it can be difficult to find things to do around here.

"I want to include local sports clubs in it as well as businesses

"My long-term aim is to create a fully-fledged community based around Canary Wharf and bring people together. There are so many potential friends to make here it's a shame not to develop that."

For more details visit canarywharf.org.uk.