Home help in Knowle West
November 13, 2006 Posted by Woodsy in : Education, Bristol, South Bristol, e-society, Mentoring, Learning, Skills , 1 comment so farInnovative developments just seem to keep happening south of the Avon with news that Knowle West Web and Future Learning have succeeded in securing funding to employ a part-time tutor to teach Knowle West Web users and residents in their own homes how to surf the internet and use email, as well as answering any technical queries they may have.
The scheme’s promoters are also keen to know what other things Knowle West Webbers want to learn, since plenty of courses are available locally, along with information, advice and guidance that may be of use to potential learners.
Anyone interested in tuition is asked to get in touch by calling free on 08000 24 24 00 or filling in the Knowle West Web contact form.
Knowle West Media Centre meets Anita Pearce
November 9, 2006 Posted by Roz in : Digital Challenge, e-democracy, Community Media, Bristol City Council, Regeneration, South Bristol, e-society, Environment , add a commentDialogue 6: Roz Hall of Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC) meets Anita Pearce from Knowle West Neighbourhood Management. 10 October 2006
I travelled to the neighbourhood management office where I met with Anita Pearce. Anita told me that she uses digital photography most of the time to take photos of all sorts of things. One example is that she regularly takes before and after photographs of spaces that have been cleaned up, another is that she photographs community events. She explained that such images are important for evidencing and communicating the work of the team to the wider community. She said that she photographs anything that might be of interest to the local community so that the images can be used in the newsletter.
Anita then told me about the street reps and their involvement in the clean up day. The digital photos taken of the day were important content for the news-sheet that was produced about the day.
Anita said that she also takes photos of things as a tool for making comparisons. For example she is currently collecting photos of parks, and is asking others to take photos of parks using digital cameras, to compare the parks in Knowle West with those of other areas.
Anita also told me about a fact finding visit to Bournemouth and how photos from that day had been important in collating and disseminating what happened through including images in the report about the day.
She talked about the ease with which digital photography can become part of such processes given the simplicity of downloading and using digital photos in other documents.
Anita also told me how residents, especially young people, are encouraged to take photos for publication in the newsletter. She underlined how important it is to then credit the people who have taken the photographs in the newsletter. She said that this stimulates an interest in the newsletter amongst residents as people like to look through it to see if there is anyone they know in it; either someone in a photo or someone who has taken a photo. She said that people recognise the newsletter and that’s how they understand neighbourhood renewal.
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Correspondence with Ronnie Corbett
October 31, 2006 Posted by Woodsy in : Digital Challenge, Wireless, Bristol, Regeneration, e-society, Mentoring, Learning, Skills , 3 commentsBristol Wireless has recently received an email from Ronnie Corbett, warden of Princess Royal Gardens in Redfield, where they installed an LTSP suite of allegedly ‘redundant’ computers in the residents’ common room. Ronnie now wishes to reach out to the local community and invite them in, where the resident mentoring team of silver surfers will be on hand to assist. The text of Ronnie’s email is reproduced below:
“I am writing on behalf of a group of elderly people in sheltered housing seeking education through lifelong learning, who have been assisted by Bristol Wireless and the Bristol Quartet to set up computer suites in several sheltered housing schemes that enable us to seek out information on any subject and in addition to obtain and have access to the same information as everyone else.
“Our wish is to share our use of the internet service and computer suite with the wider community and also to use the computers to connect and contact our neighbouring communities across Bristol and the world so as to enhance our lives and the lives of our fellow elderly people, regardless of their colour, creed, political persuasion or sexual preference.
“Much has already been achieved, but before we can invite those members of the wider community into Princess Royal Gardens, it will be necessary to make safe and hide all the wiring behind trunking and all the work that entails. We need funding to do this, which forms the next part of this worthwhile project. Bristol Quartet has already kindly provided grant aid to train 16 elderly people in the use of computers. Those 16 people have in turn acted as mentors, passing on what they have learnt to some thirty others and brought people together in a contented atmosphere of integration.
“The people who will benefit are the elderly, i.e. over 55s, plus anyone who may need help or who is lonely and isolated, any who are referred to us and who would wish to join us at times and dates to be arranged. This would also include anyone who fits the criterion of over 55 and who just wishes to be somewhere with people of their own age. We have no barrier to grandchildren. In fact, we welcome and encourage the children to help Gran or Granddad to use the computers effectively.
“Trusting that you feel our plea for funding is a worthy one, we thank you in anticipation and say thank you for all your previous help.
Yours sincerely
Ronald Corbett
Scheme Manager, Princess Royal Gardens”
If you feel you can help Ronnie, please feel free to call him on 07769882803 or email him.
A long half-day in the life of Bristol Wireless
October 10, 2006 Posted by Woodsy in : Digital Challenge, Wireless, Bristol, Community Media, e-society , add a commentIt’s midday when I arrive at St Werburgh’s Community Centre and the Bristol Wireless lab is a hive of activity. All told, there are half a dozen volunteers in attendance before dispersing to various tasks.
After a while things quieten down a bit. Lloyd, our network engineer, has been joined by Matt Zero (we have several Matts, all numbered for convenience) and together they disappear off to the top of Twinnell House to do some work with our hardware in the lift room at the top of the block.
Ronnie Corbett, the warden of Princess Royal Gardens in Redfield arrives; he departs again with our Polish volunteer Michael and a new LTSP server for the residents’ common room. Later they’re followed by Everton who’s offerred to assist.
The lab is a bit emptier now. Who’s still there?
