This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Internet expands in Ayrshire
13/05/2004
Ayrshire's community organisations have received computer equipment worth thousands of pounds through the Executive's £3.2 million Public Internet Access Points Initiative.
Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire has supplied over 50 new PCs to community organisations and public spaces across the area. Each venue received up to four internet-ready PCs, including workstations, software, line rental and internet connection for two years.
Public Services Minister Andy Kerr said:
"Since its launch in 2002, the Public Internet Access Points Initiative has contributed greatly to closing the digital divide, particularly in areas of Scotland where provision and access had been poor. I am pleased to see that Ayrshire is taking another step towards becoming a truly inclusive digital community.
"For many people, computers and the Internet are very daunting and the creation of access points in venues familiar to these people is central to focus of the initiative. In addition to providing less daunting surroundings to new or inexperienced Internet users, I welcome the news that a number of the community organisations have also introduced provision for training."
Ayrshire Organisations now able to get online are:
- West Oaks Housing Association
- The Café, Girvan
- Travellers Site, Girvan
- Rankinston Community Centre
- Bells Bank Women's Project
- Cunninghame Housing Association Homeless Unit, Irvine
- Radio City, Kilbirnie
- Troon Youth Centre
- Ochiltree Community Centre
- Barrhill Community Centre
- Colmonell Community Centre
- Ardrossan Youth Club
- Dalrymple Community Centre
- Lochside Community Centre
- Dalmilling Community Centre
Successful applicants have been instructed that they can charge members of the public no more than £1 an hour to surf the internet
Paul Nelis, Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire's Digital Inclusion Champion, welcomed the success of the initiative in Ayrshire and pledged further support to help communities make the most of the facilities.
He said:
"Ayrshire has really been at the forefront of this project, and we have probably benefited more than any other area in Scotland.
"A number of the community organisations who received these PC packages have taken the initiative further and have created learning centres to increase people's awareness and familiarity with computers.
"While it was relatively straightforward to identify where there were gaps in internet provision across Ayrshire, the reality we've found is that people, especially older people, often aren't that comfortable with computers.
"We are working with our partners in the local authorities and the Ayrshire Electronic Community to make sure these locations are as non-threatening to the technophobe as possible and that there are trained people on hand.
"Those not familiar with this technology could be put off by the thought of entering a cyber or internet café. What this programme has done is place computers in friendly and less intimidating surroundings that users will already be familiar with."