We love Ashton Court
April 25, 2007 Posted by Clare in : Bristol, South Bristol, Events , 2 commentsFestivals are expensive. 2006’s event cost over £650,000. In addition, extras including new regulations, graffiti and other clear up ‘issues’ totalled £100,000. For Ashton Court festival to remain in operation it needs help - cue the new ‘We Love Ashton Court’ website. Visit now to find out how you can get involved.
Bristol Leads The Way With Digital Recycling Project
April 20, 2007 Posted by Kevin in : Digital Challenge , add a commentBristol has a well-established reputation for taking environmental issues seriously. Many of the UK’s key environmental organisations, including the Soil Association, Sustrans, Schumaker UK, Environment Agency, BBC Natural History Unit and the CREATE Centre for Sustainable Development, are based here.
Green issues were a recognised strength of the recent Connecting Bristol Digital Challenge bid, so it is no surprise that environmental technology projects are starting to flourish across the city. One of the first of these initiatives is being run by Bristol Wireless and Byteback Computer Recycling and aims to provide local people with inexpensive recycled PC’s.
Sam Rossiter of Bristol Wireless says, “One of the great things about the Connecting Bristol project is that it has brought together lots of interested parties and one of them is Byteback computer recycling. We have since developed a strong working partnership with them, supplying recycled and refurbished computers to the local community. ”
“One of the founding principles of Bristol Wireless”, continued Rossiter, “has been to extend the life of computer hardware and in collaboration with Byteback, we are now able to offer the public fully functioning, refurbished PCs for the ridiculous price of £50”.
All the machines have a thorough health check before being installed with a Debian Linux operating system, featuring a recommended set of software to cover most users’ needs, including office tools (word processing, presentation, spreadsheets and page layout), graphics internet applications, multimedia (audio and video) programs and games. The individual machine specification may vary, but they come with a minimum of a Pentium III processor, with a decent-sized hard drive, 256 MB of memory, 17 inch monitor, keyboard and mouse.
Even though computer hardware prices are at an all-time low, there are still plenty of people who want a really low-cost machine, according to Bristol Wireless. The machines are ideal for introducing kids to computers and despite being so cheap they are powerful enough to do more sophisticated tasks. Bristol Wireless has been working hard to ensure a steady supply of machines.
Linux has lower system requirements than some other operating systems and can therefore extend the working life of hardware which would otherwise be discarded. In the UK over a million tonnes of electrical and electronic goods are discarded each year.
By offering refurbished machines, Bristol Wireless is helping with the aims of the European WEEE Directive by reducing the waste arising from electronic equipment and encouraging its reuse, recovery, recycling and sound environmental disposal.
Stephen Hilton, Director of Connecting Bristol says “It is fantastic to see this project get off the ground, and as we move forward in developing a digital strategy for the city this is exactly the kind of project we aim to support.”
People interested in a machine or wanting more details can call 0117 325 0067 or email info@bristolwireless.net
Mobile & Flexible Working is Coming to Bristol
April 13, 2007 Posted by Stephen Hilton in : Digital Challenge, Wireless, Bristol, Bristol City Council, Events, Connecting Bristol , add a commentMobile & Flexible Working is coming to BRISTOL - 2 May 2007
The Passenger Shed, The British Empire & Commonwealth Museum, Bristol
In association with: Bristol City Council & Connecting Bristol
Nomad is the local authority centre of excellence for mobile and flexible working. Connecting Bristol is delighted to join with Nomad to support a 1-day national showcase. Up to the minute case studies from a range of local authority speakers will illustrate the successes and challenges of using ICT and wireless working to accelerate service transformation.
Confirmed speakers include:
* Housing Repairs - Peter Gray, Peterborough City Council
* Benefits - Tina Gask-Clarke, formerly of Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council
* Regulatory Services - Thomas Dodd, ReGS Project, Barnsley & Sheffield Councils
* Social Care - Paul Overton, North Somerset Adult Care Services
The event will also feature a choice of interactive round table discussions:
* How to get from pilot phase to strategic roll out of mobile and the development of flexible working strategies - with case study presentations from North Hertfordshire District Council and facilitation from Anite.
* People, Home Working and Accommodation Impact - with case study presentation from Leeds City Council’s Benefits Team and facilitation from Capita.
* ‘Meeting the Wireless Challenge - delegates will hear from Bharat Jain, Nomad Wireless Project Manager; Stephen Hilton, Connecting Bristol; Ian Muller, Cityspace and Pete Ferne, Bristol Wireless. This workshop will generate insight and understanding of how wireless broadband can accelerate transformation and innovation in public and community services.
New ‘State of the Nation’ Survey Results will be shared with delegates during the End plenary session.
Attend by booking online
*Nomad is owned by Cambridgeshire County Council
*80 places are available to delegates
*Usual cost per delegate is £125 but Connecting Bristol has negotiated a £25 discount for Bristol City Council employees and elected members and registered members of the Connecting Bristol Momentum Group
*To access the discounted rate of £100 per delegate (no VAT applicable) complete the online registration form, choose to pay by invoice and add the code (CB1) to the purchase order number field
*Completion of the online registration form will secure your place at your chosen workshop (on a first come, first served basis - waiting list may apply)
*Cancellations are chargeable at the full delegate rate, but substitutions can be made until one week prior to the event.
Watershed's £6M Harbourside Deal
April 11, 2007 Posted by Pete Ferne in : Bristol, Community Media, Regeneration, Media , add a commentAccording to an article by Eugene Byrne in this week’s Venue (issue no. 761, 13-22 Apr 2007). The Watershed has signed a deal to take on the entire building (E and W sheds) which it occupies. The other tenants — Futurelab, UWE eMedia and four bars: The River, E Shed, Chicago Rock Cafe and Mackenzies — will simply have a new landlord.
The money Watershed will receive from rents will be ploughed back into the creative industry in the city, in part through a new Creative Industries Partnership
which will also include SWRDA — who have provided financial assistance to Watershed to support the move, Bristol City Council, the universities and local businesses.
I’ve been looking forward to this ever since I first heard the possibility floated. I think it will provide a tremendous boost to Bristol’s creative sector, and it’s fantastic to hear that it’s actually happening. Congratulations to Dick and the team.
