‘Get Caerphilly Online’ has reached a new milestone by successfully supporting its 4,000th person in Caerphilly County Borough to use the Internet and online technology since 2010. This figure is testament to the success of the Get Caerphilly Online partnership which was formed to tackle the issue of digital inclusion across the borough.
Get Caerphilly Online is a partnership between existing initiatives supported by the Welsh Government Communities 2.0 programme and is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
To celebrate this achievement the Get Caerphilly Online team will be acknowledging the evolution of these technologies and will invite members of the public to share their stories, memories and photos of the devices and technologies they have used, loved and sometimes hated from the past.
The Get Caerphilly Online team released a series of posts on social media on Friday 13th July taking a fond look at different kinds of ‘retro tech’; from teletext to the world of gaming, home entertainment and mobile communications. This is to be followed by a “retro tech” event on Saturday 26th at 11am until 4pm at the Winding House Museum in New Tredegar, organised in partnership with the Winding House Museum. The event will include old tech to play with so everyone is welcome to come along with their old equipment and enjoy a day of play and chat over a love of technology.
Learning any new skill can be a daunting prospect, but Get Caerphilly Online aims to make technology accessible and remove the fear associated with learning new technologies. The initiative supports people to get online whether they are a complete beginner or just need a refresher or a confidence boost. Sessions are delivered with partners across the borough. ‘Digital Fridays’ drop in sessions run in partnership with Caerphilly Library service. Digital Fridays has helped over 1,000 individuals in just 18 months and has proved a huge hit within the communities it serves. This has only been achieved by the hard work of the team and a band of dedicated and helpful volunteers who are committed to helping people across the borough. Over 2500 volunteer hours have been committed in total with ten of the team progressing into employment.
Angharad Dalton, Communities 2.0 Outreach Officer and member of a Get Caerphilly Online team, said,
“We are delighted to reach this new figure but it is more important to us that we have been able to support 4,000 people in the borough. Our team have been able to test and develop innovative methods of getting individuals to try the new technology and continue to consider all sorts of approaches to reach and support people with our partners. One of these approaches is our “Retro Tech” exhibition in partnership with the Winding House Museum. With this event, we are hoping that people’s fondness for past technologies will inspire them to think of current technologies in a more light-hearted way. Nostalgia is a very potent emotion, and we are hoping this campaign will tap into that and motivate and inspire people to engage with current digital technologies, whatever form they take. Our job as a team is to be there to help support people on their journey with technology.”
Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development, said,
“We are pleased to be working in partnership with a range of agencies to promote digital inclusion, especially in disadvantaged communities. Encouraging our residents to learn the skills needed to access the Internet is important to us here at the council, as online communication, education and job opportunities become more prominent. I look forward to hearing about the next cohort of people who have been supported through this project.”
Follow the initiatives twitter feed (@getconline) for more information #gcoretro #gco4000, website www.getcaerphillyonline.org.uk or find them on Facebook
Get Caerphilly Online is a partnership between existing initiatives supported by the Welsh Government Communities 2.0 programme which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Caerphilly Borough Council and Get IT Together – a nationwide digital inclusion programme run by national charity Citizens Online with support from BT and Communities 2.0 and a variety of local partners.
If you would like to find out more or join Get Caerphilly Online, contact Matthew Bevan of CCBC Community Regeneration on 01443 864305 or by e-mail at [email protected].
