Monday 29 April 2013

Now shortlisted for a Nominet Internet Award!


Hot on the heels of being shortlisted for an IMA Performance Award, we were delighted to receive the following message earlier today... 


"Thank you for your entry into the Nominet Internet Awards 2013.

The entries we received this year were all of an exceptionally high standard, which has made selecting our shortlist a very challenging task.

I am pleased to be able to confirm that your entry for “Connect <> Lockleaze” has been shortlisted. 

We would like to invite you to attend the Nominet Internet Awards evening on 4 July 2013 at the British Library in London. In the meantime please encourage your users and followers to show their support for you via:  http://www.miramar-clients.co.uk/internet-awards/."


Connect <> Lockleaze has been nominated in the Online skills and training Category and the entry that got us shortlisted reads as follows:

Outline the initiative that you are entering into the Nominet Internet Awards.

Question: What happens when an international corporation, an established university and neighbourhood organisations get together?
Answer: Connect <> Lockleaze - a new initiative where a local community is given the resources needed to combat digital exclusion at just the right time.

For many, having access to a computer and broadband is the norm however almost 1 in 3 homes in the UK do not have an internet connection meaning that these members of society are potentially disadvantaged. And in danger of being left further and further behind as more services become available online only.

Hewlett-Packard (HP) and University of West of England (UWE) have come together with Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust (LNT) and North Bristol Advice Centre (NBAC) to form Connect <> Lockleaze:
- Brand new computers, printers and free internet access supplied and installed by HP
- Technical support and maintenance from UWE volunteers.
- Local knowledge and access to the local community provided by NBAC and LNT.

These three working together have resulted in three state of the art IT venues that are supportive and unthreatening, where local people can come to learn what the digital world has to offer. Connect <> Lockleaze: giving people skills and tools to help themselves.

How is your initiative making a difference and how does it meet the criteria for the category you are entering?

Connect <> Lockleaze provides three venues where local residents can use computers and the internet free of charge for whatever they need: paying bills, researching best buy deals, applying for benefits, socialising…anything and everything.

Not everyone is familiar with computers so, through a mixture of formal courses, assisted self-help sessions and open access groups, Connect <> Lockleaze also gives North Bristol residents the opportunity to learn new skills:
- IT classes specifically designed for the over 55’s bring lonely people together socially, introduce them to computers and the benefits they have to offer – for example, contacting friends and relatives via email, skype etc
- Clinics on various topics to empower people. For example, Energy Clinics showing how to use the internet to find ways to save money on energy bills as well as grants, funding and benefits available to help alleviate fuel poverty and damp homes.
- One-to-One sessions at which student volunteers from UWE are available to answer specific questions or tasks.
- Open Sessions where anyone can come and use the centres for whatever they want. For example a weight loss group are using the computers to track their progress and the internet to research healthy menus and diet tips.

What did you set out to achieve with your initiative and how did you meet your targets?


The partnership agreed that in the first year, Connect <> Lockleaze would:
- set up three centres with IT infrastructure able to deliver IT related training
- hold 6 one off taster sessions
- run 6 IT related training courses
- engage 60 volunteers
- have 120 people participating in training and accessing services
- provide 300 hours of access to the community to use computers.

Delighted to report that the three centres are fully operational. In fact, more than 10 different courses have been held, 6 of which have been specifically IT related. In addition, more than the targeted 300 hours of access have been provided and Connect <> Lockleaze has helped over 150 people use the facilities so far.

Using student volunteers was not as straightforward as expected, holidays and exam periods caused disruptions to the flow of the student-assisted open sessions. The initiative now recruits volunteers from the local community who are able to commit time on a more regular basis, using student volunteers for specific one-off events such as promotional days and taster events. In addition, Connect <> Lockleaze now offers a few work placements to help people gain confidence and skills enabling them to get back into the workplace.

How do you plan to develop your initiative further?

The introduction of Universal Credit and other services with the requirement for online applications is a clear indication of how those not online will increasingly be left behind and left out. Aware that Lockleaze is the sixth most deprived ward in Bristol, Connect <> Lockleaze is naturally concerned that it will be their residents who suffer and, as such, are determined to reach out and ensure that any exclusion is minimised.

A greater level of community involvement will be encouraged with more work placements being offered and more volunteers drawn from the local area and/or people who have attended courses. In addition, Connect <> Lockleaze will establish a User Forum who will guide and inform future development in line with the needs and aspirations of the local community.

Finally, the initiative is about to embark on a commissioning process with Bristol City Council whereby they will pay Connect <> Lockleaze to design and deliver relevant courses to the local community. This will provide much needed sustainability and will allow facilities to be expanded and courses to be delivered to a wider area across North Bristol.


Why should your initiative win a Nominet Internet Award?

Connect <> Lockleaze demonstrates how much a community can benefit from successful coordination of physical resources and local knowledge, provided by commercial and voluntary sectors, respectively.

Local organisations are now able to link with a wider variety of companies than ever before and to develop an informal referral network which is proving able to provide a more holistic approach to problems faced by the area.

For example, recent ‘Money Matters’ courses provided by a national organisation encouraged local people to gain support in managing their finances. So popular were these courses that a local agency developed a series of half day workshops to deal with the specific needs of their clients, breaking down large issues into small bite sized chunks (budgeting, banking options, sensible borrowing, negotiating with creditors etc) to let people start to help themselves.

Many of the workshop attendees are long term unemployed so in partnership with yet another organisation ‘Employable Skills’ courses are now available. The next logical step has been to set up a work club where jobsites can be accessed prior to applications being made.

Like ripples on a pond, the effects of Connect <> Lockleaze are proving to be ever-expanding.

Friday 26 April 2013

Basic DIY course


Learn some basic DIY techniques including; sawing, drilling, hammering, measuring and wood joinery. Learn how to put up wall fixtures including pictures, mirrors and curtain rails, making and putting up shelves, basic plumbing, preparing walls and wood for painting and electrical safety.
Day: Fridays
Date: 21st June to 26th July
Time: 1-3pm
Duration: 6 weeks
Where: Cameron Centre, Cameron Walk. BS7 9XB
Cost: Free
To book: Call or text Kate Hunter on 07546451888 or 9141129
Need help to take part?- Let me know!

Tuesday 23 April 2013

FREE Dementia Awareness Training provided by The Alzheimer's Society

There are currently 800,000 people with dementia in the UK. The Alzheimer's Society staff and volunteers provide both local information and over 2,000 services across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to people affected by dementia in their communities. 

Local services include day care and home care for people with dementia, as well as support and befriending services to help partners and families cope with the demands of caring. From Alzheimer's Café's and innovative 'singing for the brain' sessions to memory-book projects and group outings, their services provide both practical support and an essential point of human contact.

On Tuesday 30th April 30th from 2:00-4:00pm, The Alzheimer’s Society will be delivering an awareness session on the different types of dementia, not just Alzheimer’s. 

A key element of this session is working to ensure that all those who come into contact with people with dementia in the community have an understanding of the condition. People in all settings come into daily contact with people with dementia; it could be the person serving in a shop, a paramedic, police officer, bus driver or a call centre operative.

The session will also give you some top tips for communicating with people with dementia and will look at the difficulties people living with dementia face.


Date: Tuesday 30th April
Venue: Langley Centre, Gainsborough Square, Lockleaze, BS7 9XA
Time: 2:00-4:00pm
Cost: FREE

To book a place, contact Lizzie on 0117 951 5751 or lizzie@northbristoladvice.org.uk

Monday 22 April 2013

Connect <> Lockleaze promote Welfare Reform Session

Come along to the Cameron Centre on 21st May 2013 between 9:00am and 11:00am to find out how changes to the welfare benefit system may affect you...

...main issues will be bedroom tax, DLA to PIP and changes to housing benefit.

As well as information stalls (including one promoting Connect <> Lockleaze and our latest training sessions), advisers from North Bristol Advice Centre will be on hand to answer your specific questions.

Friday 19 April 2013

Computer Skills for Work Course scheduled for end of April

Most jobs today require a working knowledge of certain computer skills:
  • sending messages across the country via e-mail
  • using a spreadsheet to create a graph and paste it into a report
  • adding and editing data in a database
Any job candidate who already possesses these skills will stand above those who do not.

Connect <> Lockleaze and Learning Communities are running a Computer Skills for Work course to help you learn these vital skills. We'll focus on the practical applications for software most common to the workplace.

Perfect for anyone currently looking for work.


Date: Monday 29th April
Venue: Boing!, Brangwyn Grove, Lockleaze
Time: 9:15-11:15
Cost: FREE

To find out more and to book a place, call Toby on 0117 903 0060

We look forward to seeing you on 29th.

Free IT taster sessions for Adult Learners' Week

Connect <> Lockleaze offer you the chance to try something new...
... these three taster sessions will give you a basic understanding of using specific computer programmes, including Powerpoint, Publisher and how to use a computer for digital photography.

Powerpoint taster: Monday 20th May, 1:00 - 3:00pm at Boing! (Blake Centre), Brangwyn Grove, Lockleaze.

Publisher taster: Wednesday 22nd May, 10:00am - 12:00pm at Cameron Centre, Cameron Walk, Lockleaze

Digital Photography taster: Thursday 23rd May, 1:00 - 3:00 pm at Boing! Blake Centre, Brangwyn Grove, Lockleaze

Cost: Free
To book: Call Toby Roberts on 0117 9030060

FREE course starting: ICT for Work

Connect <> Lockleaze can help you learn all the essentials you need to find work and apply for jobs at this FREE course for adults (19+) who have few or no qualifications.

You'll develop skills such as: writing letters, using the internet, sending e-mails, searching for jobs online, making a CV and how to make online job applications. 

There can also be a free creche provided for those who have young children, but early booking is required.

Date: 7 sessions starting Monday 29th April
Venue: Boing! (The Blake Centre), Brangwyn Grove BS7 9X
Time: Mondays 09.15-11.15
Cost: FREE

To find out more or to book your place, call Toby Roberts on 0117 903 0060.

Thursday 18 April 2013

Connect <> Lockleaze - a shortlisted finalist for an IMA Performance Award

Connect <> Lockleaze are delighted to have been shortlisted for an IMA Performance Award.

We received an email earlier today informing us that the panel have now drawn up a shortlist of finalists and advising us that Connect <> Lockleaze has been shortlisted in their Best New Initiative category.

The winners in each category will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held on the evening of 20th May at the Midland Hotel, in Manchester during a gala dinner as part of the IMA Annual Conference. Two advisers from North Bristol Advice Centre will be attending the conference and will collect the award on our behalf if we are lucky enough to win!

The nomination for Connect <> Lockleaze that got us shortlisted reads as follows:

North Bristol Advice Centre (NBAC) is a key partner in Connect <> Lockleaze, a training project established to minimise digital exclusion and to encourage local people to develop their skills.

Hewlett-Packard (HP) and University of West of England (UWE) sought out community partners with premises that could be developed into state of the art training suites. NBAC are delighted to have been chosen and see Connect <> Lockleaze as a way to help clients keep up-to-date in a rapidly expanding technological age.

The introduction of Universal Credit includes a new requirement to apply for benefits online and this is just one example of how, as our society becomes increasingly digitalised, those not online will be left behind and left out. Aware that Lockleaze is the sixth most deprived ward in Bristol, NBAC is naturally concerned that it will be their clients who suffer and, as such, see Connect <> Lockleaze as a wonderful chance to be pro-active.

Already, NBAC has run a number of free ‘Introduction to IT’ courses to start getting people online and now holds regular ‘Open Sessions’ throughout the week where anyone can drop in and use a computer, printer, the internet for whatever they need – student volunteers from UWE are available if help is needed.

In addition, NBAC are keen to use Connect <> Lockleaze to give people the skills and the tools they need to help themselves. This will help to relieve the pressure of excessive demand for services (in 2011-12 casework levels were 12% higher than the previous year) at a time when funding is decreasing.

Recent ‘Money Matters’ courses to help local people gain support in managing their finances have proved so popular that NBAC are developing a series of half day Money Management workshops dealing with relevant topics in bite-sized chunks: budgeting, banking options, sensible borrowing, negotiating with creditors etc.

As the project develops, NBAC is working closely with HP and UWE to provide a safe, supported environment where people are not intimidated, where everyone is welcome and where NBAC advisors and volunteers can help people with a range of issues: making benefit applications, researching best price deals, forming shopping groups to access bulk discounts and so much more.

Other organisations are regularly invited to use the Langley Centre and its facilities to provide free courses for the benefit of local residents. Most recently, two soft skills workshops to improve employability – confidence building, stress management – were oversubscribed.

Through Connect <> Lockleaze, NBAC has been able to link with a wider variety of organisations than ever before and to develop an informal referral network which is proving able to provide a more holistic approach to problems faced by the area.

In less than 12 months, this project is demonstrating how much a community can benefit from successful coordination of physical resources and local knowledge, provided by commercial and voluntary sectors, respectively. Like ripples on a pond, the effects are proving to be ever-expanding and, in this instance, contributing to the regeneration of the local community.

Monday 15 April 2013

Connect<>Lockleaze is delighted to welcome Kate Hunter on board...

Kate has joined Connect <> Lockleaze as our Courses Coordinator.

She will be developing and, more importantly, delivering a range of courses at the three Connect <> Lockleaze venues around Gainsborough Square: Cameron Centre, Langley Centre and Boing! 

More of that in later posts... for now, let's hear what Kate has to say about herself: 

"My name is Kate Hunter and I'm from Henbury in Bristol. I grew up and went to school there before moving to Winchester for university, where I studied for four years to become a Primary School teacher. 

I moved back to Bristol in 2004 to work in my first full time teaching post in Totterdown. Since then I have worked in various schools across Bristol as a supply teacher. 

I have also worked in the adult education sector since 2006, working as a tutor for Bristol Learning Communities Team, then later as a Learning Development Worker, organising and setting up courses in Hartcliffe and Withywood. 

I have been working for my church, Ebenezer Church in Horfield, as a youth worker for the last 18 months. 

In my spare time, I play netball for Ashton Aces Netball Club, in the Avon Netball League. I also love to travel when I can, and I've been to places such as Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Egypt, Israel, Canada and France. I'm an adventurous person and I love learning and discovering new things!"

WELCOME aboard Kate!

Saturday 13 April 2013

Move over Steven Spielberg!

A new course at the Wordsworth Centre gives budding film directors the chance to work together to create a short film about life in Horfield and Lockleaze.

Have fun and learn:
  • how to use a video camera
  • how to edit clips using a Mac computer
  • how to publish your film on YouTube
Using filmmaking as a tool for promoting community development, cohesion and regeneration encourages many different groups to work together and consider themselves as being part of the larger community - something Connect <> Lockleaze is very keen to promote.

Date: Wednesday 24th April for 5 weeks
Venue: Wordsworth Centre, 48 Wordsworth Road, BS7 0DZ
Time: 12:30-2:30pm
Cost: FREE

Book your place by calling Toby on 0117 903 0060 but don't leave it too long.













Connect <> Lockleaze and Learning Communities are running a Computer Skills for Work course to help you learn these vital skills. We'll focus on the practical applications for software most common to the workplace.






Perfect for anyone currently looking for work.



Date: Monday 29th April

Venue: Boing!, Brangwyn Grove, Lockleaze

Time: 9:15-11:15

Cost: FREE


To find out more and to book a place, call Toby on 0117 903 0060





We look forward to seeing you on 29th.