Cyberbarn needs just 30 minutes of your time. Whether you have ever used a computer or not, you can help us to make the most of a one-off opportunity to access a considerable sum of grant funding for Warcop and Sandford projects. But you MUST visit Cyberbarn before the end of March, and the sooner the better so we will know how many more people we need to persuade to come and enjoy our coffee and broadband before the deadline.
This is a funding pot that will NOT be repeated and if we miss the chance to access this money, it will be more fool us. All of us. All it needs is for as many residents of this parish as possible to drop in for a mere 30 minutes. Bring your own laptop if you would like, or your iPad or Kindle, and check your emails, download a few ebooks, or update your software whilst you are here.
The catch? We are asking everyone to complete a simple Online Basics course, which takes around half an hour. That's all you need to do, and the courses are useful to anyone wanting to use the Internet more effectively. If you are an experienced computer user, please come and do the course anyway - you never know what you might learn, and bring a newbie so you can share your experience.
We do ask for a small donation of at least £2/hour to cover the heat, light and keep the coffee machine topped up, but considering what your visit could release for this Parish, it is a small price to pay to help other projects in Warcop and Sandford get under way.
All ages and abilities welcome, as well as people from outside Warcop, Eden, Cumbria or even UK! We recently had a visitor from the Brecon Beacons who had driven all the way from Wales to visit Cyberbarn, and have also had visitors from as far afield as Texas, North Carolina, Italy and Bosnia in the last month alone due to our online publicity and widespread interest in the project.
We are happy to answer and hopefully solve any IT questions or problems you may have.
Please help as this is a considerable sum of money which could be used to very good effect in this Parish. It is almost equivalent to 2 year's parish precept and we have only 2 months to reach the target by getting as many people through the door as possible. Please tell others who may not read the blog and let's start Spring with a fab sum of money in the village coffers.
Showing posts with label cyberbarn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cyberbarn. Show all posts
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Grants for Warcop
As we enter the new year, and despite the economic environment and cuts, there are many new grants available to this area and for projects which could be run here. However, in order to access these grants in a manner most likely to assist Warcop and Upper Eden projects, it is essential that the many committees and organisations are aware of who else in the area is applying so as not to jeopardise other applications. (We had a little communication problem with this for Village SOS when two Warcop projects applied but only one application could be accepted ....)
So, perhaps those looking to do projects in Warcop and the surrounding area could use this website to post intentions of grant applications or ideas about possible projects? This will prevent duplication, give an opportunity for projects to join up and/or work together, as well as having the additional benefit that more people will know and understand what is going on and may like to get involved in some of the projects in this village and Parish, as well as in the wider Upper Eden area.
To start the ball rolling, Cyberbarn is actively seeking further grant funding to cover revenue costs (wages), for crime prevention and CCTV equipment to sell to farms and properties in the area, for young people's activities including smartphone app development, digital entrepreneurship and start-ups, and for the 5-11 age group (currently being trialled with Appleby Nursery). We are also considering a possible relocation of the Cyberbarn into the village to encourage more people to use it - open currently at Cote House Farm, Bleatarn, Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1-7pm (weather and volunteer availability permitting).
On this last proposal, Cyberbarn would welcome thoughts from the village about moving the Portakabin into the village - where? It would be ideal if the Cyberbarn could act as the home for the Village IT Suite until the new village hall is built, when the equipment could be transferred to the village hall to kickstart the cybercafe. All thoughts on the pros and cons would be appreciated.
(If you are having problems leaving a comment on the blog, just open a Google account, which will also allow you to use Google docs, Gmail, Picasa, Google +, Google search, Youtube and the rest of Google's multiple services - all under one username and password.)
So, perhaps those looking to do projects in Warcop and the surrounding area could use this website to post intentions of grant applications or ideas about possible projects? This will prevent duplication, give an opportunity for projects to join up and/or work together, as well as having the additional benefit that more people will know and understand what is going on and may like to get involved in some of the projects in this village and Parish, as well as in the wider Upper Eden area.
To start the ball rolling, Cyberbarn is actively seeking further grant funding to cover revenue costs (wages), for crime prevention and CCTV equipment to sell to farms and properties in the area, for young people's activities including smartphone app development, digital entrepreneurship and start-ups, and for the 5-11 age group (currently being trialled with Appleby Nursery). We are also considering a possible relocation of the Cyberbarn into the village to encourage more people to use it - open currently at Cote House Farm, Bleatarn, Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1-7pm (weather and volunteer availability permitting).
On this last proposal, Cyberbarn would welcome thoughts from the village about moving the Portakabin into the village - where? It would be ideal if the Cyberbarn could act as the home for the Village IT Suite until the new village hall is built, when the equipment could be transferred to the village hall to kickstart the cybercafe. All thoughts on the pros and cons would be appreciated.
(If you are having problems leaving a comment on the blog, just open a Google account, which will also allow you to use Google docs, Gmail, Picasa, Google +, Google search, Youtube and the rest of Google's multiple services - all under one username and password.)
Friday, 16 December 2011
Cyberbarn Visit by Rory Stewart MP & Guests today
Cyberbarn is to be visited this afternoon by Rory Stewart MP and guests to offer their seal of approval. It was hoped he'd be the first to dig some fibre optic cable for Bleatarn, but not sure the snow will allow!
More to follow.......................
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Cyberbarn - Opened by Jeremy Hunt!
We've had to keep a little quiet about this for the last three days, but the Cyberbarn has now been officially opened, from a distance, by Jeremy Hunt, Minister of Culture, Media and Sport. We hope Warcop might make the Herald this weekend, but meanwhile, it's definitely here on Cumbria Crack and also on 5tth with the videos of the Minister and Lindsey.
As ever, the Minister's schedule had been squished into a nanosecond before he had to move on to Carlisle to celebrate the Olympics and sport, which was his true motivation for the visit to the region. Warcop Cyberbarn has, at least, been recognised by Westminster during this visit, and for that we have to thank Rory Stewart for bringing the Minister to meet East Cumbria Community Broadband Forum, which represents 26 parishes.
Just to reiterate - the Cyberbarn is open Mon, Wed, Fri, 1-7pm. Each visit you make, even if just for a coffee, helps. And we really want you to understand what you can do with technology. It might be a security solution, such as CCTv. It could be in reducing your fuel bills. It could be overcoming the hurdles of uploading videos, removing red eye from digital photos, or how to input that cow passport.
Whatever it is, drop in and give it a go! And tell others to call in too.
As ever, the Minister's schedule had been squished into a nanosecond before he had to move on to Carlisle to celebrate the Olympics and sport, which was his true motivation for the visit to the region. Warcop Cyberbarn has, at least, been recognised by Westminster during this visit, and for that we have to thank Rory Stewart for bringing the Minister to meet East Cumbria Community Broadband Forum, which represents 26 parishes.
Just to reiterate - the Cyberbarn is open Mon, Wed, Fri, 1-7pm. Each visit you make, even if just for a coffee, helps. And we really want you to understand what you can do with technology. It might be a security solution, such as CCTv. It could be in reducing your fuel bills. It could be overcoming the hurdles of uploading videos, removing red eye from digital photos, or how to input that cow passport.
Whatever it is, drop in and give it a go! And tell others to call in too.
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Cyberbarn - Get ONline!
The lights are on! Next, we will be adding a little of the IT factor, and we would appreciate your contributions during Get ONline Week. All we are asking is one hour of your time from 31st October to 6th November.
We would like everyone to draw an animal - preferably on a computer - so we can print it out and decorate the Cyberbarn with the help of Warcop, Sandford, Bleatarn and Upper Eden residents.
And if you are already a Photoshop whizz, a digital camera expert or you can wiggle a mouse in Paint, why not drop up and offer your help?!
We would like everyone to draw an animal - preferably on a computer - so we can print it out and decorate the Cyberbarn with the help of Warcop, Sandford, Bleatarn and Upper Eden residents.
And if you are already a Photoshop whizz, a digital camera expert or you can wiggle a mouse in Paint, why not drop up and offer your help?!
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Cyberbarn news
The purchase of the portakabin to go in the Cyberbarn was completed today and it will arrive on Thursday. All the funding for fitting it out with ICT equipment, desks, chairs, greenscreen video software etc is already in the bank, and we hope to have the doors open for Get Online week at the end of October, beginning of November. (Note to burglars - no equipment of any value will EVER be kept in the Cyberbarn overnight).
Everyone is welcome to come and learn how to get online, to enjoy access to the UK Online courses -beginners to advanced, to ask questions about using your computer, laptop, smartphone or any other device, and to tell/ask us what you would like to know about ICT. Whether it is how to remove red eyes from a digital photo, upload a Youtube video, or customise your computer so it glows in the dark - come and ask!
There are currently problems with Cumbria County Council and CLEO (now run by BT) in getting a superfast broadband connection from the school to the Barn, but as there is no logical reason for any hurdles being placed in the way of Warcop's Online Learning Centre being connected, we are now escalating this to the Prime Minister, associated Govt departments, UK Online, Cumbria County Councillors, and the press, to ensure that common sense is applied to make something extremely simple happen in Warcop.
The Cyberbarn is a Big Society initiative and obstructive public and private sector players are precisely those that such projects have been encouraged to displace to see forward motion in rural areas such as ours. Especially when the community and many organisations have already shown support for this project, and others directly associated with it, to make miracles happen now and in the future in our village.
Videos, photos etc will shortly be posted of the Cyberbarn set up and we look forward to welcoming you there. We will be arranging visits to the Cyberbarn for all residents, young and old, over the coming weeks so please do not be shy in asking for a lift up to visit us if you don't fancy the stroll.
Everyone is welcome to come and learn how to get online, to enjoy access to the UK Online courses -beginners to advanced, to ask questions about using your computer, laptop, smartphone or any other device, and to tell/ask us what you would like to know about ICT. Whether it is how to remove red eyes from a digital photo, upload a Youtube video, or customise your computer so it glows in the dark - come and ask!
There are currently problems with Cumbria County Council and CLEO (now run by BT) in getting a superfast broadband connection from the school to the Barn, but as there is no logical reason for any hurdles being placed in the way of Warcop's Online Learning Centre being connected, we are now escalating this to the Prime Minister, associated Govt departments, UK Online, Cumbria County Councillors, and the press, to ensure that common sense is applied to make something extremely simple happen in Warcop.
The Cyberbarn is a Big Society initiative and obstructive public and private sector players are precisely those that such projects have been encouraged to displace to see forward motion in rural areas such as ours. Especially when the community and many organisations have already shown support for this project, and others directly associated with it, to make miracles happen now and in the future in our village.
Videos, photos etc will shortly be posted of the Cyberbarn set up and we look forward to welcoming you there. We will be arranging visits to the Cyberbarn for all residents, young and old, over the coming weeks so please do not be shy in asking for a lift up to visit us if you don't fancy the stroll.
Thursday, 8 September 2011
Funding for Warcop's Cyberbarn has been awarded
Work has been ongoing for several months to make this possible and we start this Friday with the route planning for a fast connection to the Cyberbarn. We will be laying a fibre optic cable through the village, which could be used in future to connect Warcop parish homes to much faster and more stable next generation fibre optic broadband. We hope the Cyberbarn will be open and operational within weeks rather than months and that the village will support this unique and exciting project.
More news shortly!
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