A new three-year initiative to help Bristol people access the internet, learn new skills and find out more about computers and technology is to be launched on 24^th January.

The Get IT Together project in Bristol is funded by BT, supported by Bristol Council and delivered by national charity Citizens Online. The project is part of the nationwide Get IT Together programme, backed by BT, Nominet Trust and a variety of local partners.

Get IT Together Project Coordinator, Marius Jennings, will be working in partnership with local charities, libraries, schools and community groups to make sure basic IT courses are available across the city, particularly focusing on helping older people and people with disabilities.

Marius is hosting a launch event at The Pavilion, 12A Harbourside, Bristol from 10:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday the 24^th of January. The event is open to all community groups in Bristol, as well as any individuals who would like to discover the benefits of the internet and IT.  Individuals are invited to take part in a relaxed, free taster Internet session, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and find out about other projects in the area.

Community groups including Wecil, The Vassall Centre, Link Age, Age UK Bristol, Bristol Older Peoples Forum, Action for Blind People, CSV Avon, and Slivers of Time, will be attending to find out how the Get It Together project can help their members become more digitally savvy.

Do come along on the day to see how the inetrnet and IT could be useful to you. If you have any questions contact Marius on 07785 462568 or email marius.jennings@citizensonline.org.uk.

Wikimania is an annual international conference for users of the wiki projects operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. The conferences have been running since 2005 and have been held in Germany, USA, Taiwan, Egypt, Argentina, Poland and Isreal…but not as yet in the UK.

Support is growing to hold Wikimania 2013 right here in Bristol. The City has a strong relationship with Wikimedia, a pedigree of holding international digital/ creative events, and a dynamic cohert of businesses in the digital realm.

You can support Bristol’s bid to host Wikimania 2013 by adding your name to the list of supporters on the wiki page (you will need to be a wiki editor).

Marius Jennings

A new three-year initiative in Bristol will help local people access the internet, learn new skills and find out more about computers and technology. The project, called Get IT Together, is focused on helping older people and individuals with disabilities gain basic IT skills. Sessions are tailored towards the learners’ own personal interests and are delivered by friendly, approachable tutors.

Project Coordinator Marius Jennings is working in partnership with other charities, libraries, schools, community groups and agencies to see that basic IT courses are available throughout the city, with the aim of breaking down barriers to  learning, strengthening community relations and helping residents become more digitally included.

Marius is based at Bristol City Council’s digital agency Connecting Bristol. Should you be interested in attending a course, or becoming a volunteer tutor, please write to Get IT Together, Room 404, The Council House, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TR.  Alternatively contact Marius on 07785 462568 or email marius.jennings@citizensonline.org.uk

15 free places are available at a special workshop at the NextGen conference that will explore the role Next Generation broadband will play in driving economic growth, business success and regeneration in the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone.

The workshop is being held on 16 November, between 10am and 1pm. It will feature presentations by key speakers at the UWE Exhibition and Conference Centre, Bristol, and a guided tour of the Zone. It forms part of the Next Gen 11 conference and exhibition, the UK’s premier platform for Next Generation broadband infrastructure investment.

To book a place, which are offered on a first come first served basis, contact robin.mcdowell@bristol.gov.uk . Please indicate whether you wish to attend both the presentations and tour, or the tour alone.

Those who take up the offer of free places at the workshop will be given a complimentary pass for Day 2 of the Next Gen 11 conference.

Bristol is undoubtedly a creative city, and in the 6 week run up to Christmas five Bristol-based creative groups will be showcasing original paintings, illustrations, crafts and gifts from over a hundred artists.

Made in Bristol has acquired three, previously empty, shop units within Cabot Circus shopping centre to operate as ‘pop up shops‘ to promote and sell the work of some of this City’s diverse and talented artists.

For more information on this and other creative projects in the City visit Pop up Bristol.

Recently launched eckhoBristol is the culmination of months of passion and hard work by Bristol web media company eckhoMedia. Designed, written and being run by Bristol people, it offers a smart, professional and comprehensive information centre for residents and visitors alike.

This local knowledge and attention to detail shows right from the images of the focal points of our city, via the ever-growing library of Bristol’s history, through to the car boots, craft fairs and coffee mornings that are the bringing together of community groups all over our city.

eckhoBristol is not a static site, it is evolving. It welcomes contribution in the way of photographs, events and historical information to work towards a real showcase of local knowledge. It has plans for additions of a Local Discussion Board and Mobile Device Applications, keeping it right up to date and balancing the opportunities of technology with the ease of use demanded by today’s busy audience. This will be followed by the opportunity for discounts and special offers to make time spent in the city more affordable as well as enjoyable. The aim is to deliver a lot yet keep it simple for site visitors so they can navigate quickly and easily to the areas of importance to them.

The website shows its commitment to all things Bristol and not just the large events by offering free listing to all local events however small. A local support group, a family day out, a theatre performance, or a regular market can all contribute their details for free. It is to these types of events, that are organised and run by hard working local people, that eckhoBristol is proud to give the opportunity to shout about what they do via the website.

In the words of Simon Fewkes, Director of eckhoMedia:

“The purpose of the website is to provide a local and community feel that has great attention to detail and is inclusive of local news stories, local events and the smaller things in Bristol that make our city special but that other sites miss. By drawing in a wider audience we can provide a mechanism to allow tourists and visitors to the city to really scratch beneath the surface of the more well-known Bristol events, which in turn can increase visitor numbers to the city and generate jobs. We aim to ease people’s frustration with having to gather information from a number of sources, and trying to piece it together, by providing a site that has reliable and up-to-date information all in one place, a real one-stop-shop of Bristol life.”

The website revolves around local businesses, local news, local events, and the memories of local people. The team at eckhoBristol have their ears to the ground to source information to keep the site right up to date with all things Bristol but welcome and encourage external input. If you’re running an event, have some information for the history page, want to propose a partnership that will enhance the websites goals and ambitions, or want to talk to them about advertising or ideas, they make it easy to get in touch. The website contact form is regularly monitored and one of the team will be back to you as soon as they can.

Venturefest Bristol is an event aimed at showcasing innovative ideas and providing opportunities to pitch them to potential investors, collaborators and professional advisors. There are still a few spaces left to formally pitch an idea to the Venturefest audience so if you have a business idea that you would like included please get in touch at: admin@sciencecitybristol.com.

Venturefest Bristol will also include advice clinics and workshops as well as high profile speakers and a few surprises to ensure that the delegates are thinking creatively about how to turn their ideas into reality.

Venturefest Bristol will be held at the Bristol and Bath Science Park on the 3^rd November

The Wildscreen charity is teaming up with Wikimedia UK to run a couple of events to raise awareness of the plight of endangered species.

They’ll be helping volunteers to improve Wikipedia articles about the species, using text from Wildscreen’s award winning ARKive project.

The events will be suitable for people who’ve never edited Wikipedia before- it’s easy to do, and fun – but you will need to bring a wi-fi enabled laptop or similar device.

The events will be held at The Watershed, the Harbourside, Bristol, on Thursday 15 September, one in the afternoon and one in the evening.

You can read more about Wildscreen, ARKive and the events themselves, at http://bit.ly/wikiwildlife.

Places are limited, so book now!

The Bristol Food Network, in partnership with the Bristol Food Policy Council, the Bristol Green Capital, Bristol City Council and Destination Bristol, is launching an Independents campaign to highlight the city’s diverse independent retail sector and vibrant high streets.

Bristol Independents Day is taking place on 17 September.  Details of the campaign can be found at www.bristolindependents.co.uk

The Next Gen Conference is being held on 15 and 16 November at the UWE Exhibition and Conference Centre in Bristol, hosted by Bristol City Council. Registration now open – there is an early bird discount of 10% available until 30 September.