And the Winner is ... Connect <> Lockleaze!

Here is Gail Bowen-Huggett, our Training Development Coordinator, proudly displaying our West of England Community Learning Partnership Award!

The Partnership Award was sponsored by Bloodhound and was awarded for excellent joint community learning work that has involved a number of local partners that have pooled their resources to reach and support learners to achieve.

Connect <> Lockleaze is all about partnership working - Hewlett Packard, University of West of England, North Bristol Advice Centre and Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust working together to establish training suites in Lockleaze and to encourage both informal and formal learning

Gail received the award at a Celebration of Learning event in City Hall last Friday, 24th May, held as part of the national Adult Learners Week in May.

Easy Online Learning...

Don't worry if you can't make it to one of our classes ... just come along to one of our Open Sessions and use a computer to access the UK Online Centre's new improved Learn My Way site.

It has a massive choice of courses including filling in forms online, socialising, shopping, applying for jobs and a new health section. 

An updated Learning Planner tracks all courses on the site so you can pick up where you left off when you log back into the site. 

If you have a smart phone, the site is also now optimised for mobile usage. 

Visit the website for more information.

Get connected for as little as £35

Well, you've been on our courses and now you want to use what you have learned at home...

Connect <> Lockleaze want our area to be truly inclusive and connected - a place where anyone who wants a computer at home can have one and where help to get connected is easily available.

Fortunately, there is a citywide scheme available to help us with our aim, making available a low cost recycled computer to individuals and families who are on a low income or who experience other disadvantages. These refurbished computers will be available to eligible applicants for £35.00 which includes telephone support and advice on how best to get connected to the Internet.

If you, a friend or family member would like to apply, you can find an application form here.

You can also email Pete Britten at pete.britten@bristol.gov.uk
or
you can write to Recycled computers(CH/404), Freepost SWB 535, Bristol BS1 5BR.

Connect <> Lockleaze offers Single Topic Workshops

Following on from a number of very successful 5 week computer courses, Connect <> Lockleaze and North Bristol Advice Centre's Community Support at Home project are now offering a series of one day workshops that concentrate on a single topic.

The idea is to give you a chance to develop new skills and discover new internet opportunities that are appropriate to your specific needs, interests or concerns. 

Our first workshop, held last week on 21st May, concentrated on 'Shopping on the Internet' and one of the topics discussed was how to know if a site is safe for you to give your credit card details. This workshop was so popular that we will probably run it again. If you would be interested, please contact Edward on  0117 951 5751.

As you can see below, we have 4 more lined up so all you need to do is pick and choose the ones that interest you!

4th June - 'Staying Safe On-line'.
11th June - 'Gas and Electricity-Switch and Save'
18th  June - 'Free Internet Telephone Calls'
25th June - 'Getting Helpful Information about Services for over 55s'

All workshops are held at the Langley Centre on the days above from 2:00-3:30pm. Refreshments are provided.

Workshops are FREE. 
Only 6 places are available at each so be quick and reserve your place now - call 0117 951 5751 and let us know which ones you'd like to attend so that we can give you the individual tuition and support that you need.

Send us a postcard!

Keep your eyes peeled for these Connect <> Lockleaze postcards...

...they are a chance for you to say what you want us to organise for you. 

If you don't want to post them to us, just drop it in when you are in the Square - Cameron Centre, Boing! and North Bristol Advice Centre are all happy to receive them!

Connect <> Lockleaze to host a Benefit Change Session

Hundreds of thousands of households across the UK will be affected by the biggest shake-up of the welfare system for decades. 

The first of the changes to benefits started last month... 

• do you know what are the key changes, who will be affected and by how much? No!

• have you heard talk of something called the 'Bedroom Tax' but don't really know what it means? Yes!

Well, here's your chance to find out ... 

Connect <> Lockleaze and North Bristol Advice Centre are running a Benefit Changes Clinic at the Cameron Centre, Lockleaze from 9:30 - 11:30am on Tuesday 21st May 2013.

Many of these changes will affect you, particularly if you are reliant on housing benefit to pay your rent, so don't ignore them, you need to be prepared.

Join us for a cup of tea and cake and get free advice and information from our expert advisers.

To get an idea of the range of benefit changes take a look at The MoneySavingExpert infographic - it helps you find out if you'll be affected and what to do.

Book your Adult Learners' Week Taster NOW!

Next week is Adult Learner's Week, a national celebration of the benefits of lifelong learning.

It is the perfect opportunity to explore the many types of learning available to adults from all walks of life. 

So, in the spirit of encouraging everyone to try something new, Connect <> Lockleaze are working with the Learning Communities team to provide a number of short taster sessions.

So if you fancy learning:

• how to use a digital camera
• how to posters, leaflets etc
• how to make slideshows for presentations

Then you need to call Toby on 0117 903 0060 as soon as possible.

Ofcom Report: Older users surge to social networking

Ofcom’s latest Adults’ Media Use and Attitudes Report finds that older internet users are increasingly turning to social networking to keep in touch with their friends and family. 

Apparently 35% of 55 to 64 year-old internet users now have a social networking profile – up by half in just one year (24% in 2011).

72% of those with a social networking profile claim to visit social networking websites at least daily. Half claim to visit sites more than once a day, with just under one in ten visiting more than ten times a day.

So if you're over 55 and would like to be part of this growing trend why not ask Connect <> Lockleaze to run a 'Social Media' workshop for you?

Contact Edward Morgenstern on 0117 951 5751 to register your interest.

PS: Our workshops focus on one topic at a time, to give people a chance to develop new skills and discover new internet opportunities. All you do is pick and choose the ones that interest you!

Thanks to the Twitterati!

Just a quick note of thanks to Ruth Hennell for her support via Twitter...

Ruth Hennell ‏@TheRehn

4 May

Really pleased to read Connect <> Lockleaze project in my city has been nominated for the @Nominet National Internet Awards #NIA13

Spread the word about Lockleaze!

Join Connect <> Lockleaze at Boing! anytime from 1:30 to 3:30pm on Friday 10th May to share your memories of Lockleaze ... 
... bring photos, bring yourself and bring a smile - let's share our stories with the forthcoming exhibition at M Shed.

Over the past few months M Shed has been working with many people who live or work in Lockleaze. They have been taking pictures of the area, anything they thought was interesting, unique or special about Lockleaze. A selection of these images are going to feature in M Shed, and have also been printed up into ‘Greetings From’ postcards. You may have seen them at various locations - Cameron Centre, North Bristol Advice Centre etc.

They are nearly there now, but this is one last chance to hear from you if you have any objects that might fit into the display or old photographs, or would like to be recorded talking about the area. 

If you want to help but can't make it to Boing! on 10th May, please contact: Ben Meller at ben.meller@bristol.gov.uk or on 0117 9031565.

M Shed would like to thank all the people who have been involved so far, especially:
The children & staff of Lockleaze Primary School & Early Years Centre, Lockleaze Youth & Play Space, The Cameron Centre,  Boing!, Eastville & Horfield libraries, Cookies Café, The Silver Cyclists, Pete, Colin, Chris and Sue.