Lap IT up!
Lap IT up! is the message from Winchester City Council to voluntary and community groups.The City Council, in partnership with NTL, will be launching a scheme on Monday 7 February 2005 to loan two laptop computers (courtesy of NTL) to voluntary and community organisations operating in the Winchester District.
The scheme will give voluntary and community groups the opportunity to book out the laptops free of charge for a set period of time to use in their projects or initiatives without having to lay out substantial amounts of money to purchase or hire them.
They may want to borrow a laptop because their own is being repaired, or they want to run an I.T. training programme for members of their committee, or simply provide an opportunity for children or the elderly to learn more about accessing the internet.
Cllr Brian Collin, City Council portfolio holder with responsibility for Community Services, says the Council is enormously grateful to NTL for their sponsorship of this scheme.
"It will provide good quality IT equipment to share amongst the voluntary and community groups in the Winchester District. It is a great opportunity for them to introduce their organisation to information technology or build on existing knowledge without having to bear the cost of purchasing or hiring the necessary equipment," he added
Vas Agridhiotis, Managing Director for NTL, said: "We are committed to supporting the local communities in which we operate. We are delighted to back this innovative scheme which will boost access to the internet for all people, of all ages, who live in the Winchester area."
Any voluntary or community organisation wishing to use the laptops will simply have to complete a booking form, which will include the conditions of hire. For further information, please call Mark Maitland, City Council Community Officer Tel 01962 848518 or email mmaitland@winchester.gov.uk
Winchester City Council is working closely with Community Action Hampshire, who also run a laptop computer scheme to ensure that community and voluntary organisations countywide can take full advantage of the laptops available from either scheme. For more information about the Community Action Hampshire Laptop Scheme contact the Central Services Team on Tel. 01962 854971 or Email shirley.whitfield@action.hants.org.uk
Winchester Area Community Action, the local Council for Voluntary Services, can provide a wide range of information and support for voluntary and community groups, including ICT support and access to training programmes. Contact Hannah Williams, Voluntary Groups Officer on 01962 848019, email: hwilliams@waca.org.uk
For further information on NTL, please contact Odette Sullivan (NTL PR Manager),
Tel: 07971 273 293 Email: mailto:odette.sullivan@ntl.com