"UK online" Community Learning Centres

In the March 1999 the Capital Modernisation Fund was set up around 700 Learning Centres across England. The aim is to give adults who currently have limited or no access to ICT, the opportunity to access and learn ICT skills to help them make the most of themselves in all aspects of their lives.

In September 2000 the Prime Minister launched UK online. UK online is a government-backed drive to ensure that everyone in the UK who wants it will have access to the Internet. UK online will deliver products and services from the government and public, private and voluntary sectors that will offer support to people to enable them to take advantage of the new technologies, offer access to the Internet and training in how to use it.

Three new UK online centres are shortly top be opened in Gosport. These centres are located at Seafield Centre, Seafield Estate, Magennis Hall, Rowner Estate and Forton Learning Centre, Mill Lane.

Participants will have opportunity to access ICT resources with the support of centre staff and volunteers. A variety of resources will be available to include: access to the Internet and e-mail, desktop publishing programmes, digital cameras, scanners, word-processing and software to promote learning ICT or basic skills.

There will be time when the centres are available through open access for between 1 and 5 participants per session, but on other occasions the centres will be booked out to specific community or voluntary organisations of up to 10 participants. Each centre will have access to childcare facilities for at least one of the "open access" periods planned in the centre's timetable.

The project will provide access to "learndirect" courses enabling the users to access over 600 innovative and high quality courses, of which 80% are online. Learndirect will enable people to fit learning into their lives, learning wherever they have access to the Internet, at home, at work, or from one of the 3 new "UK online centres".

Participants will be able to access IAG (information, advice, and guidance), access further learning and training opportunities through the St. Vincent College part-time Adult Education prospectus or full-time courses.

Picture: Gosport Borough Council in partnership with St. Vincent College

Gosport UK online Centres, Forton Centre, Mill Lane, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 4QA
Email: info@gosport.org
Tel: +44 (0) 23 9258 8311 Fax: +44 (0) 23 9251 1186