Scottish Borders loses its computer bus
A deal between the Scottish local authority representative body COSLA and the new Scottish Government has allowed a freeze in Council Tax levels for the coming financial year. In return for increased government funding, councils however have had to commit to a number of other issues including reducing class sizes and increasing pre-school provision. One of the saddest losses will be that of the Quality Award winning The Computer Bus from the Library and Information Services which in June 2004 won a major Quality Award for the " Innovative Use of Technology."
"Perhaps of greater importance than the Award itself, is the contribution the computer bus is making to enhance peoples’ lives, by giving people in rural communities new opportunities, widening their horizons and helping them to learn new skills in a relaxed and informal setting," said Councillor Robson of the Award.
The bus uses satellite technology to provide access to the Internet and provides basic computer training in rural and isolated communities across the Scottish Borders. Similar to a mobile library, there is a set route but in addition to providing access to the internet, the bus offers training and a range of standard courses, as well as tailoring course to individuals own needs.
Caroline Stavert, project coordinator, said the background to the development of the bus was "a survey of 1,700 members of the public, which highlighted the desire for computer training. Half of all those questioned said they felt that getting computer training was a priority. This survey also reinforced research undertaken as part of preparation for the Hawick regeneration project and work undertaken with the Better Government for Older People initiative."
"The bus route was prepared to visit as many as possible of the 70 communities with a population of under 500 in Borders. Because of distances the bus had to cover, it makes four visits to each village, on a weekly basis over a three-month period with a pre-arranged date and time. Each visit lasts for 2 hours, either in the morning or in the afternoon. We arrange these visits through the Community Council, Village Hall Committee, or other community organisations," she added
Courses included Computers for the Terrified and Office for the Slightly Nervous - Word and Excel as well as Becoming Webwise (the BBC course). More advanced courses were also available, plus a number of single units on subjects such as how to buy a computer and computer security and ECDL was to be available online as well as units covering graphics and desk top publishing.
Sadly the bus which costs £73,000 pa and a special needs pool at Wilton in Hawick (£16,000 in annual running costs) are to be axed at a saving of £89,000
while devolved school budgets with the region's headteachers are being told to find a total of 2% in efficiency savings - £874,000 over the next financial year
putting the figure to £963,000
The good news is that the council will have £249m to spend in total, which will include continued investment in the building of new schools.
Sources: http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/news/2847.html
http://www.berwickshire-news.co.uk/