New courses at the ARC

Hi everyone, I just want to let you know of some of the University courses that are coming up over the next week or so. If you are interested please email or call me on 578632, to book your place or to get further information.
MONDAYCreating a slideshow of photos (power point part 2) 19th May 2008 at 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.Flash Animation 12th May 2008 at 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
WEDNESDAYIntroduction to Powerpoint (part 1) 14th May 2008 at 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Working with digital images 14th May 2008 at 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.Skype taster day for adult learners week – ONE OFF SESSION ONLY – 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
THURSDAYCapturing lives (power point part 3) 8th May 2008 at 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
FRIDAYWord & File Management (suitable for beginners) 9th May 2008 at 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Internet and Email 9th May 2008 at 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
(Location – The ARC, 45 Broughton Avenue, Portmead, Swansea SA5 5JS)

Flash Animation

New 8 week course starting 9th May 08 at 5:30 p.m. in the ARC, 45 Broughton Avenue, Portmead. Flash Animation is a new subject suitable for people who are reasonabley literate on the pc. For further details call Debbie on 578632

New courses

Starting this Thursday we have a new course on called 'Capturing Lives' - it is like digital story telling. In order to do this you need to be compitant in power point and creating a slide show of photos. For further details contact Debbie on 578632.
It starts on May 1st at 9:30 a.m.for 8 weeks.

Discover your family history at Penlan Library

Come and join the coffee morning on Wednesday 12th March from 10:00 - 12:00 for the free introductory course. For further details contact jodi.jones@swansea.gov.uk at Penlan Library.

Fun Run for Sam

Its Mothers Day - but I got up bright and early to go and watch Nicky and Owen take part in the fun run which is to raise money to support and motivate Nicky's mate Sam, who was involved in an accident which left him paralised. They started at 9:30 this morning at Mumbles Pier and run to ynystawe Cricket ground. I met them at County Hall - and what a sight... lovely to see Nicky in his FAME suit - he was about 5 mins in front of Owen - well done

boys!!!!

New Course at the ARC

Desktop Publishing is an 8 week course starting March 3rd which is useful to learn how to make business and greeting cards, calenders and newsletters. If anyone is interested come along at 12:30 p.m. this coming Monday.

Current Courses

Monday
9:30 – 12:00 Internet & Email (28.1.08) Powerpoint (14.4.08) 8 week accredited courses.
9:30 – 11:30 English for Speakers of other languages (ESOL) continuous blocks of 10 week sessions.
1:00 - 3:00 Pre GCSE Maths and English (Basic Skills)
5:30 - 8:00 Design Elements of Web (14.1.08) 2D Animation (28.4.08) 8 week accredited courses.

Tuesday
9:30 – 12:00 Selling on line (19.2.08) 8 week accredited course.
12:30 -3:00 Internet and email (29.1.08) First steps to family history (date TBC) 8 week accredited courses.
5:30 – 8:00 Back up and Burn (22.1.08) Use your pc effectively (22.4.08)
9:30 – 11:30 English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) continuous blocks of 10 week sessions.
6:00 – 7:30 Tai Chi (continuous)

Wednesday
9:30 – 2:00 IT for ESOL students (2.4.08) 5 week course
1:30 – 4:00 PC surgery (continuous) FREE pc repair/upgrades/installations etc

Thursday
9:30 – 12:00 Intro to powerpoint (31.108) 8 week accredited course.
12:30 – 3:00 Word & File Management (21.2.08) Digital Camera (Date TBC) 8 week accredited course.

Play Champion

As a result of working with Bridging the Policy Gap and Swansea's Play Stratergy - the next step has been to have a meeting to look at 'Play Champions' and whether or not there is a need for them, and if so, what is the role of the champion?
Would a play champion be someone to be the middle man as a voice for children, to pass their ideas, concerns etc onto the authorities or would it be someone that promotes play and raises awareness of the importance of play? We came up with many ideas of what kind of person a champion would be... but if you have any ideas or suggestions please leave your comments.

Annual Leave this week

chillin out on annual leave this week as its half term so me and my little un are looking back on old photos and video clips. I have added some to my blog and updated flickr.

And I have nearly finished all 7 Harry Potter books. Absolutely brilliant!!!

Trip to Glasgow

Last Thursday a group of 11 of us went to Glasgow for the final conference of Bridging the Policy Gap. This was a really interesting conference, where participants from Glasgow, London Borough of Newham and the City & County of Swansea were able to talk and share experiences about the projects they have been involved in.
Swansea was involved in re-writing the play strategy, the London Borough of Newham looked at employment access for disabled people and Glasgow focused on the Working for Families Fund.
There were Ministers from Scotland and UK listening to what our experiences have been and I had to get up on the platform to say what my experience was. For me to have grass roots communtiy members, working on policies with business, council and voluntary sector organisations and government ministers, is the best way forward, as the people at the top are able to listen and experience what real life people face on benefits, living in poverty, facing unemployment, being unable to access services and the correct benefits - this process has really made them sit up and listen. Also, for the 3 cities to share their experiences and work together, visiting eachothers projects in the peer reviews was great as we can learn from each other - and it doesnt matter where we live, in what part of the country, we all same to face the same issues.
This was all very educational for me and I have been privaliged to be a part of this process. It is not over, even though it was the final conference, as Swansea's Anti Poverty Department within the City & County of Swansea is moving things forward with a take up campaign being piloted in my area (Blaenymaes) and there will be an event on April 17th (watch this space) and i have also been invited to be 'play champion' and will be attending a meeting next week to find out the role of a play champion.
So it wasnt all about having a free jolly ride on a plane to Glasgow, staying in a posh hotel and eating lush food and going to the pub - but that did help. And even better than that - we shared a plane with all the rugby scots fans on the way home, and we beat them hands down on Saturday - bring on the Grand Slam!!!

Next community development team meeting

Our next community development team meeting will be on:

28th February 2008 with a 12:30 p.m. BUFFET start, followed by our bi-monthly meeting at 1:00 p.m. At this meeting we will be joined by special guests of Morriston Phoenix Choir to talk about what they can offer our community and give us a couple of songs!! Should be really good fun. So come along.

This will be followed at 3:00 p.m. with our PACT meeting - with the Police and Housing dealing with any issues that you wish to bring to their attention.

Blaenymaes Singing Group

i went to Plas Melyn old age complex this afternoon to watch the Blaenymaes singing group give a couple of songs to their very first audience. They sang 2 songs with no backing music, and harmonised very well... they were good. Then they got everyone to join in singing and learning 'sentimental journey'. There was a lovely buffet to follow and chat with the old gents and ladies about life in the past... great fun!!

Take up campaign

Today I attended the 'Take Up Campaign' meeting at the ARC where the room was FULL of service providers who were there to find out about this campaign. Karen Grunhut from the Anti Poverty department of the city and county of Swansea, gave an outline of what all this is about. And basically its about an event that will take place in Blaenymaes Community Centre on 17th April to raise awareness of local residents, to see if they are aware of the services they can access and whether they are in receipt of the right benefits. But it is not just about money, as i said its about accessing services too.
So with all the service providers knowing about what every one else does, and can provide etc. in a directory they can work better in partnership with local residents in Blaenymaes to improve life - so watch this space for further info on the Take Up Campaign!!!

Work out your footprint

At our sustainability workshop yesterday we looked online to calculate our footprints. If every one in the world lived like me - how many planets would we need to get our resources. Its really good fun to to see the seriousness of the issues we face when looking sustainability, recycling, environmental issues, travel and so on... and i should be ashamed of myself as if everyone lived like me we would need 4 planet earths to keep us going.....but, we only have one planet earth so we should treat it well and wisely. Check out www.wwf.org.uk

A new year begins

Happy New Year to you all.
Well 2008 is here and its been a busy time so far and we are only into the first week. I have been busy with the team finalising things for Lottery bid to continue our digital community network projet and secure the 4 existing job... so we hope to send this application off next week.
I have had a meeting with Open College Network as the ARC is to become a registered centre and the staff, once trained, will be delivering OCN courses at a variety of levels in a variety of subjects to attract more new learners. So watch this space!!
The courses in IT are continuing with a range of subjects on offer at the moment, such as Word and File Management, Internet and Email, Digital Camera, Back up and Burn plus more, and we also have our usual English and Maths class, English for Speakers of other languages (ESOL) and a new business studies module commencing tomorrow (Friday 11 Jan) in personnel. Anyone interested come along and join this 7 week class.
At the Drop in centre i have organised a sustainability workshop, which will look at making your centre greener and you will learn about energy efficiency, carbon footpints, recycling and reusing and it is going to be good fun, with a visit thrown in if your good!!
Credit Union is still running every Thursday morning, with my mate Sue as the new volunteer who is loving her voluntary work in their main office in town too. So if you wish to start saving for a rainy day, call in and find out more.
For all the latest things and updates contact Debbie on 578632.

Merry Christmas From BPP Development Trust

All the staff and volunteers from the BPP Development Trust went for Christmas lunch yesterday and an enjoyable time was had by all..... until Michael had a bit of glass in his trifle. Luckily he spotted it before he actually put it in his mouth!!!!

It was great to see a full turn out and Anthony was sitting at the head of the table, smiling to himself, and I asked what was he smiling at, his reply was "I'm just looking down the table thinking how proud i am of you all" - what a lovely thing to say.

I just wish to take this opportunity to wish all readers a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and thanks to the Board of Directors for the gift of our dinner. You can see more photos of us all click here

School Play

Today I went to see my boy in the school nativity play, he was a villager who played instruments and wondered around the village on the stage. He was really nervous for weeks, and was refusing at one point to be on stage or even dress up... so the fact that he did it, i was so proud.

Christmas Lunch

The Foundation in Information Technology (FIT) class at the ARC had a lovely Xmas lunch today with all the trimmings, served up by Cafe ARC - Mmmmm smells lush!!

Whats on in January 2008

Internet and Email 8 week course to learn how to find things on the internet, to satisfy your curiosity or to save money, and use email fully. Include material from the internet in your word documents and send documents attachments to your email. Use the internet to shop or book holidays. Two classes starting on Monday 14th January (9:30 – 12:00) and Tuesday 22nd January (12:30 – 3:00) in the Action Resource Centre (ARC) 45 Broughton Avenue, Portmead.

Personnel module of the HE certificate of Business Studies 7 weeks course commencing 11th January 9:30 – 12:30 at the Action Resource Centre, 45 Broughton Avenue, Portmead. This FREE module provides an introductory study of personnel management matters that affect the way in which organizations operate. It offers basic insight into areas students will need to appreciate with regards to a business environment, although they may not always be directly involved. It will illustrate how personnel and employment matters impact on the operating environment of individuals within business.

ESOL – English for Speakers of other languages – come along to the Action Resource Centre (ARC) to learn how to speak and write English, learn grammar and citizenship FREE for all those who don’t have English as their first language. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 14th January 08.

PC Surgery – A FREE service for all who are having computer problems, whether it is hardware, software, anti virus problems and much, much more. Every Wednesday 1:30 – 4:30 at the Action Resource Centre, 45 Broughton Avenue with our system support technicians and trained volunteers.

Pre GCSE Maths and English available to all adults to brush up on Maths and Literacy. It is FREE and is great if you want to help your children with homework, brush up on skills you have forgotten since you left school, ideal for gaining more skills to find a job. Every Monday 1:00 – 3;00 at the Action Resource Centre, 45 Broughton Avenue, Portmead from January 14th 08.

Back up and Burn is an 8 week course available at the Action Resource Centre, 45 Broughton Avenue, Portmead. Come along and learn how to put your text, photos, music and video to disc. How to store all your important information safely. Commencing 22 January at 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Café ARC is a lovely community café, situated in the heart of the Portmead community on Broughton Avenue, which provides a wide range of tasty food including healthy options, breakfasts, baguettes, snacks, hot and cold drinks plus a delivery service and buffet service available. Call in for cuppa and find out more. Open Monday – Friday 9:30 – 3;00. Volunteering opportunities available.

Techno Day at the ARC

The day for the technology fair finally arrived, after a lot of hard work and preparation from the Digital Community Network team. The aim of the day is to showcase new forms of technology, to all local residents within our community - and to see what people already know about and what they want to learn more about.

There were 61 people through the doors of the ARC at 4pm, with many waiting patiently for the time to come. A represnetative from Currys store in Fforestfach came along with a 32" HD ready TV and a PS3 with games. He held a competition to see who could car race around a track the fastest, and the winner was Richard Punchard aged 11 form Portmead - who won an mp3 player - WELL DONE RICHARD!!!

We had many youngsters play with the latest Nintendo Wii, and dance the afternoon away with the PS2 dance mats. There were others making funny photo pictures on the apple mac, and pumping out music with garage band. Many people also left some wild and wonderful messages in our video diary room too.. which i have yet to view!