BITPart is a voluntary partnership of individuals and groups working with IT in Burngreave
Advice and help with computers
Training and volunteer opportunities
IT networking to provide fast internet access and resource sharing
Public meetings and IT strategy
Assisting in the development of a community information network for the community of Burngreave
Assisting in the development of a strategy for employment and training in ICT within the Burngreave area
Developing systems for the implementation of access to the Internet for the households within Burngreave
BITPart is affiliated to Burngreave Community Action Forum, which holds 'quarterly forums'.
At the forum, groups affiliated to BCAF give reports, detailing progress and throwing it open for debate.
These are our reports.
Education IT Conference - 5th April 2003
The ‘Connecting IT to Learning’ conference was highly successful, thanks to all who came and took part in the discussions about how to put computers to use, helping people access both formal and informal education. A report, including videos of the speakers is now on-line.
BCAN Expansion
BNDfC have agreed to fund a further 7 ‘nodes’ of our BCAN or wireless network. These will be installed over the next 2 months, giving new organizations access to the network and extending it’s coverage to new area’s like Spital Hill and Verdon Street.
IT Support and plans for a Social Enterprise
We offer IT support to groups and individuals, but at the moment there is more demand than we can meet with volunteer time, so apologies if we have been slow in responding to any requests. We are working hard on proposals for a major new project, a Social Enterprise which will offer IT Support and also develop and maintain the BCAN to cover the whole of Burngreave. We hope this will be a key strategic initiative to increase the value individuals and groups in the area get from their computers. We are keen to build up a broad steering group for this project are holding a meeting to discuss these plans on May 27th, 6.30pm at Abbeyfield Park House for anyone who would like to learn more.
Network Training Workshops
A very successful workshop was held on Saturday 17th May at Abbeyfield Park House. 10 local people took part and with Alan Dawson's support some participants upgraded equipment they had brought with them and others worked on recycled pcs donated to BITPart, turning them into wireless routers for the Burngreave network.
We Need You
You can find out more about our work, and comment on it or anything else that’s happening in the area at our new, interactive website, www.burngreave.net.
If you are interested in IT, or would like to offer some time supporting others in the area, or would like to attend one of our network training workshops please get in touch with Nicholaus Hall, BITPart c/o 12 Burngreave Rd, S3 9DD. E-mail nicholaus@burngreave.net Telephone 0114 2728008.
8/7/03
Present
K Hartney, A Dawson, S Iman, M lankshear, D Dallen (from 7.30pm)
Appols
N Hall, S Limb
Agenda
Project Monitoring
Form received from BCAT today. Only recently completed previous ¼. Salema to complete. Outputs:- Report from Learning event, directory, project report, (note recent area directory from Family Support), partial, pending Nicks return, -Bid FS, approved and – Brief completed by start next week - Nodes, delayed (see below), anticipate completion end August.
BCAN
Delayed due to insurance difficulties and difficulties with purchasing arrangements and apparent overspend (although this doesn’t appear right to MC). Need financial report (Mark to request). All equipment bought but not by BCAT, but is ready to go. All nodes have been agreed. Software has been developed and 3 existing nodes have been upgraded. Planned nodes include;
Ashram (needs ariel, possibility of serving row of shops)
Yemenin Integration and training centre (needs arial)
SCRAP (needs arial)
BCAT
Somali education (?Nick has contacted)
Yemmeni Community Association (Alan contacting)
Verdon Street Rec and Yemmeni Education (Mark and Kevin to chase)
Funding
Feasibilty study approved (£5000 from NC and SCEDU).
RIF approved, needs to be considered by wider management group.
Approved Nicks letter of complaint re E&E group process.
Working sub-group (Nick, Mark, Dave T and Lynne) to develop FS brief and full proposal for social enterprise. FS to work on model of 'exportable skills training' rather than 'gadget'.
Plan for steering group launch in 1/12.
BCAT have secured funding for rent, internet connection and 'consultancy' based work from Nick until end Oct (see below) from New Deal.
Worker / Admin
Nick has 20 days extra (see above), 8 for reports and 12 to ensure FS and nodes completed. BCAT will act as contact point, Red Message book is being kept in BCAT and will need to be picked up by volunteers (lead Kevin) and to update BITPart answer machine.
Working Group Status
Formally informed and accepted as BCAT working group.
BCLC Steering group
Kevin has been a BITPart rep of steering group and will develop IT programme and education particularly with web development. CIN application currently stalled as NDC developing own site, but we are awaiting the outcome of the first Communications subgroup and have offered input.
Festival
Display being done by Georgia at BCAT (many thanks). CLC are present in stables and would like us to be partners, we would like to provide public internet access (Kevin to liase).
Drew
Discussion of recent BITPart and CLC activities over last year. Future of Vestry Hall discussed. Chapel, health and safety is being improved by council (allowing limited access only), pigeons shit being evicted. Drew has been liasing with Matloub and one of CLC workers and are developing ideas for Burngreave Community Radio (BCR) and other ideas being based in the chapel. BITPart would like to site node here and this could be of benefit for any potential internet radio developments and would be interested in collaborating. Interested in assisting (?with CMA and Access Space) in an event to promote chapels use.
AOB
Monteeny are doing something at Parson Cross festival have requested support for internet access in a field. Alan keen to take on, is waiting to hear back re details.
BITPart was formed in December 2000. Local people showed an interest in IT had previously been talking on the Burngreave messenger's internet message board. The Messenger's AGM meeting provided the impetus to form BITPart.
ICT training is essential for the development of employment opportunities and the efficient use of reources in the Burngreave area. The Baseline study found that IT was the most highly desired kind of training in the area. BITPart believes that the existing resources could be put to better use though coordination and by bringing in external ICT resources, such as the BBC South Yorkshire Mobile IT Bus. We aim to:
Identify training opportunities available to residents and write a short report / presentation on the current availability of training.
Hold a public event for people interested in Adult Ed / IT, particularly, existing ICT training providers and the new Learning Campaign workers.
Provide a publicly available directory and strategy report.
We hope this will enable us to ensure that ICT training opportunities are highlighted within the Community Learning Campaign, and providers are consulted about future strategy, leading to integrated and accessible ICT training in the area.
BITPart are building a partnership to start an IT support and maintenance social firm. This is a not-for-profit business, training and employing people who experience barriers to employment, particularly due to mental health issues.
The social firm will
· Train and support local volunteers and a work force
· Provide IT service and support
· Support and assist plan and develop ICT resources
· Help to install and maximise benefit from ICT equipment
· Basic level on-site training and support in IT maintenance
· Develop and maintain an area wide ICT infrastructure to enable communication and resource sharing
BITPart have regular open meeting to develop the Social Firm and other IT initiatives.
You can download the first version of the Social Firm Registration of Interest form from here.
Our BITPart development project funding commits us to the three major projects;
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
Improving access to IT training
In addition to this set programme of work, BITPart has committed itself to contacting and assisting other organisations in Burngreave with their IT problems and issues. BITPart is fortunate to have members who make their living in the IT sector and who can provide free consultancy to local groups.
Contact Nicholaus Hall at:
12 - 14 Burngreave Road,
S3 9DD
Tel: 261 9318
Mobile: 07791041484
Email: nicholaus@burngreave.net
You can also visit our website where you can view our agendas and minutes, view our conference documents and join our e-mail based mailing list.
BITPart are building a partnership of organisations to participate in a cooperative resource sharing network.
By an innovative use of licensed wireless technology and second hand PC's BITPart intend to link community organisations (and any private individuals who wish to become involved) together and then to the internet.
Given that digital communications are of ever increasing importance in the "wired up world" the "Wireless LAN" Project promises to provide the people of Burngreave with an affordable and radical way of gaining access to the "network".
· Providing community organisations with affordable internet access
· Connecting community organisations with each other
· Recycling redundant bandwidth throughout the area
· Using an appropriate mixture of leading edge and redundant technology to provide services in a cost effective and efficient manner
· Allow community groups to access secure file storage and use of applications across the network.
The Community Media Association and the Sheffield College have provided support to BITPart in this project, and we hope to develop it rapidly over the coming months.