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PC Care launches on Valentines Day

PC Care in Sandfields Aberavon opened the doors to its new PC suite this week. It will offer free drop in internet access and flexible learning for the community along with a whole package of support to get people using new technology successfully – from switching on a computer, to shopping on-line and even social networking.

Funding for the project comes from Communities @One, the Welsh Assembly Government initiative to improve access and engagement with technology for people in Communities First areas.

The grant has funded 4 staff who will support people with their ICT learning. Support technicians will be on hand to help people experiencing PC problems at the centre or even at home. Local voluntary groups can also use these services. A technology suite will showcase all the latest new technologies such as internet telephony (or VOIP) so people can experience it.

Layton Emery is Project Leader and invites people to try out the new facilities, “By offering a one stop shop in Sandfields Aberavon we want to break down the barriers that put people off trying out computers and help them develop new skills in a friendly environment. We can even tailor training to suit peoples’ needs such as computer rebuilding sessions which several people have shown an interest in. These facilities will make a big difference to people’s confidence with ICT.”

PC Care’s project organisers worked with their local community broker Matthew Lloyd to put together the project plan. Matthew says “PC Care is working at the heart of the community tackling digital exclusion. By training volunteers to recycle computers, offering practical support to people and planning long term sustainability, PC Care will really build up the community’s capacity.”

Communities across Wales are showing a huge appetite for technology; in its first year Communities @One has committed £3.7 million committed to 92 community projects in Communities First areas.

Projects supported through the grant fund range from large scale projects providing learning packages to the community with the employment of mentors and technical support, to small projects where digital cameras help engage people who previously thought technology was a turn off.

ENDS

For further information about Communities @One please contact:
Elizabeth Hudson, Communications Officer, Communities @One
Wales Co-operative Centre www.walescoop.com
Email elizabeth.hudson@walescoop.com Mobile 07795 418106

Notes to Editor

1. More information about Communities @One

• Demand for support through the Communities @One grant fund is high, however projects can register an interest with their broker. To find your local broker call 029 2055 4955 or visit www.walescoop.com/communities@one
• Across Wales, 11 Community Brokers work with local community and voluntary groups to create project plans that will use ICT to build peoples’ skills and help them apply to the Communities @One grant fund.
• The programme was developed by the Welsh Assembly Government to help people in Communities First areas engage with new technologies and is managed by the Wales Co-operative Centre. It is funded jointly by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European Union Objective 1 and 2 programme.
• Social networking is used to describe talking to people with similar interests as you through websites like MySpace.
• Commenting on the first anniversary of Communities @One, Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration Edwina Hart said: “Communities @One is making a real difference by helping our most disadvantaged communities engage with technology. Many community groups are embracing it with enthusiasm and using it to change their communities for the better while building up their skills in a way that they could not have done previously.”
  

2. The PC Care project will also include:

• a technology showcase suite to enable demonstrations of the latest technologies that can improve our lives, from on-line banking to VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol). VOIP is internet telephony, providers include Skype, Polycom and Cisco).
• a technical support project, run by the PC Care Hardware Support Technician
• training courses structured around the learners needs, including PC refurbishment
• a savings scheme for ICT products linked to the credit union
• volunteers will become the ICT specialists of tomorrow through training
• for further information about PC Care contact Layton Emery on 01639 894398
  

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