1. Inclusive ICT South Lanarkshires Experience

2. Project elements 1) Provision of basic ICT training in library Active IT centres for 1,000 people in the SIP area. 2) Community outreach training for 500 in community venues. 3) Laptop loan scheme to 70 households in SIP area.

3. Needs and target outcomes Surveys revealed that 23% of unemployed in SIP wanted ICT training – project would address this need. Enhanced employability Community capacity increased Lifelong learning promoted Access to information widened

4. Funding package 10 PCs and printers £30,000 SIP 10 Laptops £10,000 Training courses £10,000 Development worker £7,000 PN Hardware £19,000 Total £76,000 Gates/Executive grant £46,000

5. Timescales Project start October 2001 Beneficiaries identified January 2002 PN hardware installed February 2002 Courses begin February 2002 Interim report May 2002 Project end date March 2003 Final report March 2003

6. What happened?

7. Library ICT courses Courses run in Blantyre, Burnbank,Hillhouse, Cambuslang, Halfway and Whitehill libraries. Introduction to Computing, Word Processing, Internet for Booklovers and others. 958 training places provided by this track.

8. Outreach courses Nurseries Multicultural groups Sheltered housing Credit Union 40 sessions, 300 learners Age is no obstacle!

9. Laptop loan scheme Extended until March 2004 through SEL Nominations from partner agencies Basic training for all beneficiaries 66 loans made over 30 months 17men, 49 women. Multiple beneficiaries per loan

10. Anecdotal evidence Single mother doing her final year thesis. Housebound student completed college course Volunteer worker secured FT employment through IT skills An excellent scheme allowing members of the community unlimited use of first class equipment in their own home Superior to anything I have tried in the past

11. Lessons learned Importance of pre loan training for laptop borrowers. Laptops more popular than desktops Loan scheme time consuming to administer 3 PCs not returned from loan

12. Lessons Learned 2 Staff intensive Importance of staff commitment Partnerships essential