Communities First View

This short film captures the views of Communities First Officers about ICT usage, support and capacity for development in their area.

Regional Working

This video shows how the CVC Circuit Riders use communication technology to their advantage in working in remote areas around West and Mid Wales. Our core information is gathered and stored on a web based office system which can be accessed from any Internet connection. VOIP (Voice over IP Telephony) is used for video communication, live text messaging and file transfers between the team.

CVC Circuit Riders update

CVC Circuit Riders............the story so far
This short film was created using software called Muvee, a user friendly video and image editing package, showing the work of the Circuit Rider team so far.

Nurturing ICT in the Voluntary Sector

The event arranged for November, in the Botanic Garden, to consult on the future planning of ICT in the Voluntary Sector has been redesigned and developed as part of our online consultation.

The event was designed to update all CVCs on the work of the pilot project being run on behalf of the Infrastructure Group and would have included:

• a review of ICT group activities across the region
• a look at mobile working and
• a preview of the new ICT on-line resource

As part of the pilot project we are also hoping to recruit 10 CVCs to join a link programme to add these ICT resources to their own websites.

CAN Do

The community of Pembroke Dock certainly CAN Do and to show you what they can do, and how, their new website has just been launched. CAN Do (Community Activity Network) is for anyone locally interested in cratfs and sharing what they can do with others in the community. The group have been up and running for a while and are all volunteers. Visit the site at http://www.candopembrokedock.co.uk/

"Welfare Sites To Go Live"

Llanelli Disabled Access Group and CATCHUP Ltd, two welfare charities from Carmarthenshire have arranged a special launch celebration for their new websites, produced in conjunction with the Wales CVC Circuit Riders project...

" Two Llanelli charities are launching websites at an awareness day tomorrow. Llanelli Disabled Access Group and the Catch Up information and advice centre are holding the event at the Selwyn Samuel Centre.

Websites for the groups will be switched on by MP Nia Griffith at 10.30am. The morning session will be for social workers and health care professionals. Members of the public are welcome between 1pm and 3pm.

John Davies, of Catch Up, said: "We are based at Coleshill Terrace and specialise in welfare benefits advice and helping clients with form filling." The disabled access group is able to give advice and guidance on access matters and holds an annual awards ceremony where it presents certificates to organisations that have adapted their property to the needs of disabled people."

The websites have been made possible by the Wales CVC Circuit Riders Regional Partnership Project." (Article courtesy of the Llanelli Star)

Video: MP Nia Griffiths, releasing the website balloons at the launch.

Nurturing ICT in the Voluntary Sector

On November 14th in the National Botanic Garden of Wales there will be an event for all CVC's to look at ICT provision in the Voluntary Sector.

This is a really important opportunity to contribute to the forward planning of the proposed Convergence bid that is being submitted on behalf of all CVC’s.

Following consultation during the event, feedback can be posted on the Circuit Rider blog by attendees and also those unable to attend. We want to ensure that as many as possible are involved in the planning process of ICT support for the Voluntary Sector across Wales.

Get your documents on the move

Do you ever need to access your documents or spreadsheets when you're away from your own pc? Did you think that Microsoft programmes such as word, access and excel were what everyone used?........well think again. There are a whole range of companies lining up to offer users online solutions. The latest contender is Adobe who are offering word processing from 'Buzzword' and a whole lot of other stuff. To find out more just read what they have to say http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7021630.stm

Drop in sessions

The Pembrokeshire Circuit Riders will be holding another drop in computer session for anyone in the Llanion and Monkton area. This will be held at St John's Community Hall on Wednesday 3rd October between 10am and 3pm. If you want to know how to tidy up your pc's hard drive, get online or set up a website for your group then drop in and meet the team.

Fishing for compliments

Ok, bad pun, I apologise.
Just a quickie to announce the latest website launch of one of the groups taking part in the Circuit Rider project. This time it is the Llanelli Carp & Coarse Fishing Club.

This is a club set up to teach juniors and any adults that wish to learn to fish. There are four CRB checked coaches and also four members have a full First Aid Certificate. Anyone wanting to enjoy the lost art of angling, get in touch via the website.

Group websites

The project is continuing to work with a range of groups helping them to create their own online presence. The latest fully live and kicking new sites are

www.pembroke21c.org
www.pembrokedockfestival.org.uk
www.havencreditunion.org.uk

By learning new skill, getting a website and thinking creatively, these groups have achieved a great deal in a very short space of time.

Contribute CS3

This is the latest version of Contribute. Having been using Contribute for several years, this latest version has taken us by suprise. The spec is much higher than for previous versions:
Operating system XP Service pack 2
Min processor type 350 MHz
Peripheral / Interface devices
DVD-ROM, XGA monitor, Internet connection
System requirements details 512 MB 1.4 GB.

Possibly this spec might cause problems for some. Do we need to find an alternative?

Computer Surgery

Circuit Riders Sue Blantern and Phil Perry will be putting on a Computer Surgery event at St. Johns Community Hall, Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire this Thursday 19th July, 10-4pm. If you're in the vicinity, feel free to drop in and say "Hi" to Sue and Phil, and discuss any ICT related problems or just have a play on the Internet with guidance on hand if needed.

We look forward to seeing lots of members of the community there and hopefully will have some video of the event to post next week... stay tuned!

The project is taking off rapidly with new websites under way and ICT health checks in progress. The latest website to be launched is Pembroke21c, a visionary organisation that hope to bring Pembroke into the 21st Centuary in many ways including the digital. To see what they are planning and who is involves visit the site at www.pembroke21c.org

The CVC Circuit Riders are a friendly, efficient and locally based ICT team giving practical help with computers, as well as support with creating group websites and videos.

If you are a voluntary or community group working in one of the Communities First wards please ring the ICT Telephone Helpdesk 01437 771197 and talk to Sue, Deborah or Catherine for more information or visit the website www.walescvccircuitriders.org.uk