The 'Eye' Team?!

Technology can help blind and partially sighted people to live more independently, but sometimes setting it up can be challenging. Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has a Technology Support Squad, a free national service that can set up and help blind and partially sighted people use technology.

There are thousands of gadgets designed to make living with sight loss easier, but it's hard to know where to start once you get them home. If you're having trouble setting up or getting the most out of your technology, this Technology Support Squad is available to help.

RNIB have 1,000 volunteers across the UK ready to give advice over the phone or visit you at home. Call their Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk for help with:

• getting to grips with a new computer or laptop
• setting up your internet
• getting the most out of your TV, such as installing a DVD player, setting up your Freeview box and helping you use audio description

 and much much more.

To find out more, visit their website.  

Lockleaze Regeneration Starts

It is an exciting time in Lockleaze - after years of discussion, plans to develop 14 flats, 12 houses, two business units and a community building were approved for Gainsborough Square.

Bristol Community Housing Foundation and Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust have drawn up this scheme to develop a corner of the square that has been empty and overgrown for almost 20 years.

And today, Connect <> Lockleaze joined local residents and other community groups for the 'Breaking Ground' ceremony on the new site.

Construction starts tomorrow so take a last look at how the Square looks now...

Other local developments are also underway, all of which will bring new opportunities and new life into an area that can sometimes feel isolated and unloved. Already it is clear that some residents feel disconnected and it is hoped that these feelings do not intensify while work on the new developments in underway. The needs of new arrivals into the area will need to be balanced with those of existing community members.

Connect <> Lockleaze hopes to play a part in this by providing facilities that offer benefits to all members of the community, by encouraging groups to use the IT hubs for their own activities and by working in partnership with other local agencies. 

More information on regenration plans can be found on Bristol City Council's website.

Love could be in and on the air!

Connect <> Lockleaze hubs are a community resource and we are keen to enourage local residents to use them during our regular open sessions.

Is there something you'd like to try?  Maybe exploring the romantic or companionship possibilities that online dating could have to offer...

And while you're embarking on one new adventure why not make it two!

Consider taking part in a new Channel 4 mini series that wants to follow new daters as they navigate their way through the world of online dating.

Find out more by emailing your details to loveonline@thegardenproductions.tv

This week is National Apprenticeship Week!

Welcome to National Apprenticeship Week - 11th to 15th March - all about celebrating Apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the economy.

What is an Apprenticeship?
An Apprenticeship is a real job with training so you can earn while you learn and pick up recognised qualifications as you go. If you live in England, are over 16 and not in full time education you can apply - there is no upper age limit. They take between one and four years to complete and cover 1,400 job roles in a wide range of industries, from things like engineering to financial advice, veterinary nursing to accountancy.

What types of apprenticeship are there?

Apprenticeships are available in all sectors and industries.There are more than 250 different types of Apprenticeships available offering over 1,400 job roles, in a range of industry sectors:

• Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care
• Arts, Media and Publishing
• Business, Administration and Law
• Construction, Planning and the Built Environment
• Education and Training
• Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies
• Health, Public Services and Care
• Information and Communication Technology
• Leisure, Travel and Tourism
• Retail and Commercial Enterprise

Where can I find information on Apprenticeship Vacancies?

• There are 15,000 apprenticeship vacancies available on the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) website at any time. This is a free system where employers and learning providers can advertise and manage vacancies, and potential apprentices can search, apply and then manage their applications.
• The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) has developed a new smartphone mobile application called ‘AV Search’ - it’s free to download and is ad-free:
• Android – AV search, via Play store
• iphone-AV Search via the App store
• Some apprenticeships are also registered on Universal Jobmatch.

How can Connect <> Lockleaze help?
Come along to an Open Session at one of our IT hubs (Cameron Centre, Boing! or Langley Centre) and use our computers and free internet access to browse the NAS website.

Connect <> Lockleaze helping people 'Get Hired'

This afternoon, Connect <> Lockleaze had a stall at the ‘Get Hired’, an employability event held at Filton Community Centre.

Organised by Southern Brooks Community Partnership, it brought local businesses, organisations and employment agencies under one roof, making it easy for local residents to see available vacancies, apprenticeships and volunteering opportunities.

Connect <> Lockleaze promoted our IT centres in Gainsborough Square as places people can come to browse the internet for jobs, build cvs and make online applications.

We were also keen to advertise our forthcoming Employable Skills Workshop (starting 24^th April at the Langley Centre) as well as finding out how much interest there is for a work club based in or around Gainsborough Square in Lockleaze.

Although the event was quieter than we would have liked (maybe due to the weather), we still spoke to quite a few residents, all delighted to find out that such an extensive IT resource was available in their area. We also discussed co-operative working with other exhibitors (Airbus, South Gloucestershire Vocational Service, Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust etc).

Connect <> Lockleaze gets a boost from Vodafone

From thousands of applicants nationwide, the Vodafone Foundation have chosen local resident, Edward Morgenstern to pursue his dream of making a difference for older people.

Thanks to Vodafone’s World of Difference Programme he is now able to give two days a week to help run computer courses and social activities for anyone over 55 living in north Bristol.

He has joined the North Bristol Advice Centre’s Community Support at Home team and his first task is to use the Connect <> Lockleaze facilities at the Langley Centre to plan and run a very basic computer course especially designed for older beginners.

Edward says “It will be simple, non-threatening and most of all fun.”

Participants will learn to use a keyboard and mouse, send email and browse the internet. “We want to use social media, skype etc to reduce isolation and encourage older people to work together to embrace change!”

If you are interested in enrolling, please contact Edward on 0117 951 5751.

Our First Focus Group

Earlier today, Connect <> Lockleaze held it’s first focus group.

We believe it is vital to the success of the project that the community be able to influence how the three IT centres are used: the type of activities and courses run, how much hand-holding is required, opening hours etc.

North Bristol Advice Centre (NBAC) kindly organised a meeting at the Langley Centre this afternoon. Sadly, the turnout was lower than we would have liked however we did receive excellent feedback.

None of the participants had heard of Connect <> Lockleaze so, despite our sessions being fully utilised, we still need to make more of the community aware of the wonderful resources they have around Gainsborough Square!

A few other things we learned were:

• 33% did not own a computer but knew you could access them at a library.
• 33% had never used a computer before but were interested in learning.
• 100% expressed a desire to access our computers either alone or with informal assistance only – not structured courses.

We will be taking these and their other comments on board as we design our next set of sessions.

As well as ideas for Connect <> Lockleaze, the participants were keen to sing the praises of NBAC’s dedicated advice workers and the huge difference advice service made to their lives.

We plan to hold more Focus Group sessions throughout the year so if you would like to come along (just a couple of hours) to make your voice heard, please contact Katherine Tanko at North Bristol Advice Centre on 0117 951 5751.