Digital Inclusion Wales: 2008 Conference Report 21
Owen Evans added that it has been. Technical support is Alun Burge made the first
Communities @One was built more difficult, there are a wide response, saying “independent
through social justice and now variety of services so it’s about evaluations show that generally,
social justice is leading economic knowing who to pick for people do engage and find it of
development. He said “the danger community support… and a lot value. It’s important to them
for the next phase is because of it is down to ensuring that you personally and adds something
we’re engaging effectively with can sustain the support within a to the community. Today (at the
older people you can lose trade by community by retaining the skills conference) we’ve seen examples
them buying goods online that are and experience.” of the liberation it can provide to
from outside the UK.” people… my life has been
Alun Burge followed up by saying transformed by technology as have
Chairing the session from the floor, “it’s one of the areas we’ve those of many other people.”
event host Jason Mohammad grappled with most but there is no
asked “if people feel comfortable single solution, there are different Owen Evans followed up:
saying they don’t want to use a circumstances around Wales” “One size doesn’t fit all…through
computer… how do we change (Alun cited examples in Caerphilly, finding people’s interests
that?” Merthyr and Pembrokeshire subliminally, you can get people’s
(PAVS)). Alun added that it’s for attention… however you might
Gail Bradbrook said that she projects to factor IT support into need to be more direct – knock
thought this situation was “a good their budgets and referred to on doors and find out what
thing”, adding “the literacy problem Terry Price of the Scarman Trust people want.”
in the UK is huge... technologies who believed that organisations
will uncover literacy skills while should be trained up to assume Gail Bradbrook reiterated an earlier
developing ICT skills.” (Gail cited responsibilities themselves as point about promoting digital
the ‘Everybody Online’ project as problems are often basic. inclusion, “what’s the hook? It’s a
an example of good practice). question of marketing, something
Nick Batey said that people are Elise Stewart of Canllaw Online that the Brokers can deal with in
equally happy to engage and learn made an offer to Communities the future. A free cup of tea also
in a way that they would not with @One by saying that the Credu works! It’s about good people
standard literacy and numeracy. He initiative for young people at skills, partnerships and sharing
added “people will respond well to ‘Digilabs’ offered a managed good practice.”
‘peer pressure’ on this issue… it’s service to those projects. There
an opportunity rather than a barrier, is a lot of learning that can be Nick Batey said the right
but we should be looking at it.” shared. The managed helpdesk equipment is a necessary
service can be offered to help prerequisite but not sufficient,
Christine Williams of IT Wales then share experiences with adding “it’s about finding
asked whether the issues of data Communities @One. something that will make that
protection and the need for individual tick and aspire and want
technical support are felt by Elise was thanked for her offer to improve him or herself. There is
community groups as they are and told that it could be discussed also a task for hardware and
with small businesses, and if so, in the future. software manufacturers to make
where do they go for help? things easier for people.”
Jason Mohammad rounded off the
Owen Evans said he felt that data session by throwing an open
protection is blown out of all question to the panel “digital
proportion, adding “yes, basic inclusion – why bother… what’s
levels of security are a good thing, the point?”
but it’s not as much of an issue as