BT Internet-ready PC in Southport

THE Hear Here Nugent Care Society of Southport and surrounding area has, this week, been awarded an NEC internet-ready PC and an anytime 12 month connection to BT Yahoo! as part of the BT Community Connection award Scheme. In addition Microsoft office software is included as part of the enhanced winning package.

The BT scheme, now in its third year, has awarded more than 3,400 awards to a diverse range of groups throughout the country opening the massive wealth of information on the internet to local groups like this. It helps them communicate, opening fundraising, promotional, recruitment and training opportunities.

The group was among hundreds that entered in the North West region and impressed judges with ideas on how an Internet ready PC would benefit their local community.

The group plans to use the Internet to widen the services already provided. The Hear Here project has been running in Southport for over 3 years, it helps raise awareness for the needs of hard of hearing people in the Southport area. Giving advice and information on hard of hearing issues, as well as information on lip speakers, and support groups.

It has two lip reading classes; the classes are on Tuesday morning and afternoon. The classes last 2 hours and cover issues such as communication, environmental aids, finger spelling, hearing aids and lip reading.

The project has a support scheme where our trained volunteers visit isolated hard of hearing people in the community. Giving them a friendly face to talk to every week/ fortnight. Also helping them with hearing aids and offering support when required.

We also provide/ distribute a guide booklet to support services for hard of hearing people in the Southport area.

We are now offering this Internet access for hard of hearing people within the Southport area, which we hope will improve information services and communication with family and friends.

Alison Wareing of the Hear Here group said:- "The Internet will benefit the local groups by introducing them to the Internet and removing the fear of new technology thereby offering equal access. We are hoping the hard of hearing/deaf community will take up the opportunity of an added communication skill.

The groups will be able to access information on services, benefits and support groups. Learn how to set up email addresses, look up websites, as well as find their way around the web pages.

Guidance will be offered by myself and Jacqueline Aughton who will continue to assist when needed. Using staff trained in good communication, people need not be afraid to ask questions.

Volunteers will be able help the people they visit by setting up e mail address for them to contact family members. The volunteers will also benefit by increasing their knowledge, skills and awareness."

Catrin Hughes, regional communications & PR campaigns manager for BT added:- "This award scheme aims to give as many people as possible access to the internet and allows groups to develop their projects using easier and more effective methods. Following the overwhelming success of BT Community Connections in Previous years, BT is delighted to continue making a difference to the World Wide Web."

To apply for a BT Community Connection award, community groups need to demonstrate how they would use the Internet in an innovative way and how the wider community would benefit from the award. The closing date for round two is December 2004.

Another record breaking weekend expected at Liverpool John Lennon Airport

THE August Bank Holiday weekend is expected to be Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s busiest ever as record numbers of passengers continue to use the Airport.

Up to 50,000 passengers are forecast to be moving through the airport over the Bank Holiday period, smashing all previous records. July was already the busiest month ever recorded with over 328,000 passengers travelling through the Airport, beating the previous busiest month of August last year by almost a thousand passengers.

The wettest August since records began, combined with additional easyJet routes and new services with scheduled airlines VLM, Emerald Airways and Aer Arann is believed to have contributed to this expected record throughput. The popular program of summer Mediterranean holiday flights with tour operators such as Thomson, MyTravel, First Choice and Thomas Cook will also add to the busy weekend movements.

Robin Tudor, Corporate Affairs Manager for Liverpool John Lennon Airport commented:- “The Bank Holiday period is always the Airport’s busiest time and this year, one of the worst UK summer’s on record, has undoubtedly contributed to the overseas getaway. The Mediterranean continues to be a favourite, however breaks to London and Ireland are becoming increasingly popular due to the new services on offer. As well as new airline services, passengers travelling from Liverpool can now benefit from a variety of new retail, catering and lounge facilities available in the terminal, following the completion of the £21.5m expansion work.”

IT'S YOUR LAST CHANCE TO NOMINATE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUP FOR A PRESTIGIOUS AWARD

DO you know a group of volunteers who work tirelessly to support their local community?

Do you think they should be recognised and rewarded for their efforts?

Do not miss out on nominating them for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, as the 30 September deadline is fast approaching

The time is almost up for members of the public to nominate their local voluntary group or community organisation to receive the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The search for the unsung heroes of the community was launched on 8th July and you have until 30th September to nominate your local voluntary group or organisation.

There are thousands of voluntary groups across the UK who help transform their neighbourhoods through their own creativity and hard work. These organisations work tirelessly to provide support and important services to the local community without receiving any form of recognition. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service offers the perfect opportunity to honour their dedication and commitment.

This highly prestigious, annual Award is designed to give well-deserved recognition to those who volunteer their time and energy to help others. The Award is special because it is for the group as a whole rather than individuals.

Now in its third year, the Award was created to mark the occasion of The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Over 300 groups have received the Award, including many ethnic minority organisations such as, The Greenwich Chinese Community School, The Centre for Filipinos in London, the Central Gurudwara Singh Sabha in Glasgow, the Salford Link Project in Manchester and the Arab Group in Hounslow.

Community and voluntary groups can be nominated for an Award by members of the public, who have either benefited from their work, or have seen the positive effects on the community.

Judy Griffiths, centre manager for Nubian Life, which delivers culturally sensitive services, primarily to the over 50’s African and Caribbean community, says of winning the Award in 2003:- "The Queen’s Award has made a really positive impact on our work. It has helped us secure funding and also the added publicity has lead to offers of free help from professionals who want to support the community too. It was very nice to be nominated and of course to win – the volunteers work very hard and it was a great ‘thank you’ from the community and the establishment."

The launch of the 2005 Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service also sees unprecedented support from a host of major BME media champions, who are actively encouraging their viewers, readers and listeners to nominate organisations that they believe are worthy of this prestigious Award.

This year’s media champions include:-
• Sunrise Radio
• Ethnic Media Group
• Zee TV
• PCNE
• London Greek Radio
• Spectrum Radio
• London Turkish Radio

Sunrise Radio Managing Director, Tony Lit, believes the Award is an important recognition of the hard work and dedication of these community and voluntary groups. He said:

"Sunrise Radio are proud to support the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. There are so many organisations within ethnic communities in general and the Asian community in particular which go unrecognised and don't receive the well-deserved commendation for their efforts. It’s so important to appreciate the work of these community groups as it’s their tireless effort and dedication to improving services which benefits the local community in the long term.

Groups such as these form the backbone of the community and provide a place where people from all walks of life can integrate with members of their own and other communities. Sunrise Radio aims to encourage the Asian community to support their local voluntary and community groups by nominating them for the Queens Award."

Home Office Minister, Fiona Mactaggart, said:- "These annual awards give well-deserved recognition to some of the unsung heroes who work together as volunteers. The activity of our citizens is a vital resource in the UK - it develops the individual, boosts local communities and enriches the nation.

Volunteer groups, which do so much good, often don't receive public ‘thank-you’-s. I am pleased that, through these awards, there is a special opportunity to recognise and celebrate their work.

Groups from ethnic minority communities have a proud history of voluntary activity. They should use this opportunity to put themselves forward. I hope that they will be encouraged by this chance to promote their work and create a greater understanding and appreciation of the contribution of Britain's diverse communities to our society.

Community groups work hard to improve the quality of life for people in all walks of life. These are people who take action themselves, rather than leaving it to others, and I hope everyone who has benefited from their work will come forward to nominate them for a 2005 award."

If you know a volunteering group that is really making a real difference to people’s lives, then nomination forms for the 2005 Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service are available from www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk or by calling 0845 000 2002. The nomination period runs until 30 September 2004.

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