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Maybole
on-line with May-Tag
Summary and
Objective.
The objective is to
deliver a high profile project which will allow the community to engage with
modern technology and methods of communication through the services of May-Tag.
This innovative
demonstration project will deliver digital opportunities and bridge the digital
divide. It will move the Maybole community, businesses and organisations towards
web ownership and awareness, through targeted life long learning. The process
will be inclusive and will begin to reduce social exclusion in the town.
The project will
expand access to learning through the ongoing development of the Maybole web
site.
Description
May-Tag will
deliver the project by 11th May 2001, and it will be part of an ongoing
project to create a new role for May-Tag as a community learning centre.
The specific goals
to achieve the objective will be threefold.
1 . Making 2000
people of all ages in the community aware of the new approach by May-Tag to
enable them to participate in ICT learning and develop a local web site by
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a) extensive
coverage of how to engage in the project, in the local community newsletter
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b) a survey to
be carried out locally, with entry to a prize draw on completion
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c) telephoning
in the evening
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d) initial
access to the site free of charge, with free CD of the site for those who
have computers
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e) free
training session on how to use the internet for residents by exploring the
Maybole site as an example.
2. Involving 200 local people in active participation in this web site
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a)Initiation
of a cyberchase awareness session on the local site
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b) Invitation
to local groups to come and have a try, (with support available if required
)and get on line.
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c)
Encouragement of regular participation of businesses, groups, schools,
churches etc to engage in setting up a bank of services and opportunities -
using the database of the Maybole Community Development Group
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d) Introduction
of the concept of local exchange trading
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e)
Encouragement of positive feedback from site users.
3. Starting 20
people on courses to gain skills in ICT
This will be done
by offering access courses and drop in facilities at May-Tag's premises.
Costs
Because the time
frame is tight, participation ratios are high, and staff time and resources are
extensive, May-Tag requests a sum of money to enable it to initialise the
project fast. Initial costings suggest a sum of £10,000 will be required by end
of January and monthly payments of £5,000 in February and March.
Time
costs include 50%
management time of project leader, volunteer time of company directors,
students, voluntary groups, press, marketing, and consultancy agencies.
Risks
If the project is
not undertaken, the chances of the community, especially the socially excluded,
to access life long learning are reduced, the digital divide remains and a small
community based voluntary sector enterprise is unable to maximise its service to
the community and create a modern role for its expertise.
Appraisal
Aggressive targets
and time scales mean an accelerated approach to achieve outputs. The achievement
of the pilot aims, however, will be an excellent foundation for the further
development of the web site and the creation of a modern role for May-Tag..
May-Tag will
deliver co-ordination of the many different local residents and groups to ensure
coherent local support, wider consultation and better ability to reflect needs
and aspirations. May-Tag can deliver a local survey of ICT awareness which will
require a high ratio of volunteer time and involvement, to record participation
and ensure the wide marketing and publicity required by the short time scale.
May-Tag will be
able to provide informal learning opportunities by way of evening classes and
drop in facilities and because of its existing structures offer further outlets
and access to learning outcomes locally. Existing premises, equipment, staff
expertise, volunteers, networking, and training accreditation enable May-Tag to
obtain a response from the community within the time frame and a better chance
to sustain it.
The existence of an
initial rudimentary web site allows May-Tag duplication to CD, and facilitates
Local Exchange Trading start up.
The company has a
sound history in successful value for money projects e.g. Signposts, The Maybole
Charity Shop, and The Maypole Community Development Group. The project will be
managed and delivered to SQMS standards.
Outcomes
Achievement
of the set goals will allow further local learning engagement and expansion of
ICT based projects, in particular the web site. The project would be an ideal
training ground for those involved in IT coursework at May-Tag and further LETs.
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