2009 Benefit Programmes for Community and Voluntary Groups in Mayo
Support for IT Development in Local Communities
Mayo County Council and the Mayo County Development Board have received three grants under the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources under the BenefIT scheme. This funding will allow for the further roll-out of supports to communities to provide technology training and equipment.
Commenting on the recent announcement of funding, Pat Carroll, Head of Information Services with Mayo County Council said that “Mayo County Council are extremely pleased to be able to provide training and equipment to community groups. We’ve been very committed to improving the ICT infrastructure in the community for many years now. We’re especially pleased to be able to offer something new when so many government projects are being curtailed.”
The “Spread the Word” project will provide training, equipment and materials to 20 community group members who want to train others to use computers, the internet, etc. in their community. Trainees will receive a train-the-trainer course, a laptop, a projector and course materials to use in training others in their community. In exchange, participants are asked to commit to training at least 20 people before the end of 2009. Train-the-trainer courses will be offered in Spring 2009 and will take place in up to three locations to minimise travel for participants.
Pat Carroll said that, “Spread the Word is a like teaching someone to fish instead of just giving them a fish. If 20 community groups get involved, at least 400 people will have IT training by the end of the year—which is a huge boost to the people of Mayo.”
The “Infrastructure Boost III” project will provide computers, printers and software to community groups interested in establishing computer labs for their members. About 15-20 computers in total will be available and will be targeted to groups that can set up labs of at least 5 computers. Mayo County Council has previously provided computers and equipment to more than 20 groups around Mayo under the ASC programme funded by the Department of An Taoiseach.
These programmes are open to most community groups whose members or clients include: older people, unemployed people, people with disabilities or people who are not benefiting from technology. In addition, participating community groups will be asked to register with Mayo County Development Board’s County Community Forum (registration is free).
Mayo County Development Board’s “Look At This!” project has also been awarded funding. This project will focus on delivering a series of initiatives to increase the ability of isolated rural dwellers and other target groups to benefit from new technologies.
Mayo County Development Board’s John Magee said this week that “it is hoped to deliver tailored training to over 250 people throughout the County. This group will be mainly drawn from older / retired people, the unemployed, people with disabilities, lone parents, refugees and those living in isolated rural areas”.
For more information and to request an application form for these programmes, visit www.mayocdb.ie/benefit or contact Rick Love (rlove@mayococo.ie or 094 904 7127) or John Magee (jmagee@mayococo.ie or 094 904 7545). Application deadlines for Spread the Word and Infrastructure Boost III are 20th February 2009 by 5 pm.
Only a dozen projects were funded under the BenefIT scheme and Mayo County Council was fortunate enough to win three projects totalling just under €100,000 from a total project fund of €1m.
Posted: 13/01/2009