Project Overview

Needham Market Internet Cafe Community Interest Company

Company No. 5700276

1. ACTIVITY FOCUS

What activities is this project expected to deliver?

The core activities will be based around 'drop-in' Internet access. This will include basic computer/internet training and advice, leisure learning opportunities and a range of facilities to enable printing, scanning, newsletter/website design and gaming. Drinks & snacks will help provide an atmosphere congruent with informal learning. Additional activities will include a community website, independent film nights and 'signposting' services - using the space to point people in the direction of relevant statutory bodies (extending CAB services, etc).

2. ACTIVITY SUMMARY

What are the main aims and objectives, and how will they be delivered?

Core objectives:

To promote and enhance the availability of Information & Communications Technology (ICT) within the Needham Market Area.

The need for an internet cafe in Needham Market is twofold, based largely on the need for wider access to emerging Information and Communication Technologies throughout the country. In addition, while communications are important everywhere in today's world, they are even more important in rural areas where transport can be more difficult, and isolation more acutely felt. This is especially true for young and old people, who would provide the core focus for our activities.

Young people have shown their enthusiasm for an Internet/Gaming cafe (as per Needham Market & Surrounding Areas Health Check, 2004), so the concept of self-management will play an important role. Through the sense of ownership and responsibility this endows on those involved, it is expected that real benefits will be derived - especially from the involvement of young people at all levels of decision making. The project will consult and involve people in decision making because it enhances "ownership of ideas and activities", it also builds commitment and enthusiasm.

Involvement with the existing youth club, and any other interested young people, will ensure that the project is focused and relevant, as well as utilising the IT skills that so many young people possess. In this way we will give the youth of Needham Market hope that they can fulfill their IT ambitions without leaving the local area.

This will also be a safe environment for people to learn about and use the Internet without the worry of viruses or identity theft.

(See appendix A for Key Milestones.)

3. GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF DELIVERY

What are the areas that will be covered by the project?

Needham Market and the surrounding parishes (primarily those covered by the Health Check: Badley, Barking, Battisford, the Creetings, Great Bricett, Offton, Ringshall and Willisham). Approximately 8,800 people.

4. TARGET GROUPS

Who are the target users?

Young people in Needham Market have identified an Internet Cafe as their number one priority (as per Health Check - Youth survey).

People seeking 'leisure learning' opportunities (as per Health Check).

Disadvantaged groups - elderly, unemployed (and underemployed), ethnic minorities, single mothers, working poor. These groups will be accessed through outreach work to encourage their use of our services.

Retired people; Community groups; Disabled users; and Children at risk.

Parents of school children (as per outcomes from Town Meeting).

5. LINKAGES

What linkages can be made with existing organisations?

With the opportunities the internet offers in communication, we can integrate with other local community projects, and use new communication technologies to improve the local network of community-based organisations.

Online networking can aid local media-led entertainment and community activities. Offering better access to new technologies will enable, for example, independent film nights and help Youth Club bands/DJs get exposure, support and advice.

In addition, linking up with existing providers like the Library service and the CAB will enable us to extend and enhance the services currently available.

6. ADDED VALUE

How will the project benefit from and add value to current provision and/or existing projects?

There is limited provision for casual ICT access, advice, and training in the local area. The existing IT infrastructure of Needham Market consists of a small computer repair shop, a web design company, and the Needham Market Library.

The project will add value to current services within the town and provide a range of opportunities for the community; it will not duplicate existing services; and it meets the needs identified in the Health Check.

7. OUTCOMES

What are the expected outcomes of the project?

Meet the needs of Young People (as per Health Check).

Meet the Leisure Learning needs of local people (as per Health Check).

Improve skills, employability and job prospects to unlock the energies of local people and let them determine the extent to which being online improves life in their community.

Tackle social exclusion and promote neighbourhood renewal.

Reduce rural isolation and exclusion.

Provide a comprehensive service of access and supported learning to develop community consultation and participation, capacity within the community and voluntary sector and ICT skill levels.

Provide economic strengthening, promote self-help and lifelong learning, test e-government services, and enhance school-home links.

Provide parents with skills and confidence to enable them to get involved and help their children with homework and out of school projects (as per Town Meeting).

Demonstrate how individual access to the internet can transform opportunities for people living in a rural area by supporting new ways of accessing education, work, leisure and other services.

Enhance local Social Capital by using new technology to strengthen and extend existing social networks.

8. ACTIVITY MANAGEMENT

How will the project be managed?

Self-management is the long-term aim.

The Steering Group will make all key decisions. The Steering Group will be comprised of all key stakeholders: to be confirmed.

Each stakeholder will be able to report to the steering group at regular meetings.

In addition, users will be able to report to management, who will in turn report to the Steering Group.

Management will be monitored through feedback to the Steering Group, and evaluated by users, staff and stakeholders at the AGM.

An online forum will ensure that feedback, monitoring and evaluation is a continuous, on-going, process. It will enable procedures to become subject to constant renewal and improvement, based upon the influence of users and workers alike.

9. EXPENDITURE

See Budget Outline - attached.

10. CROSS-CUTTING

How will the project contribute to cross-cutting themes?

In seeking to fulfill the core aim of improving access to ICT we confirm our aspiration to equal opportunities and sustainability.

Our Equal Opportunities Statement is based on advise from the Commission for Racial Equality, and will be subject to continuous revision to maintain its relevance. It is hoped that the open, community-led, image of the organisation will encourage the involvement of traditionally under-represented groups.

Our raison d'etre is to improve the ICT facilities available to our community!

Our Environmental Policy will ensure that waste is minimised; that what waste is created is dealt with as sustainably as possible - through recycling, reusing and composting; and that environmental impact will be included in all decision-making criteria.

11. OTHER FUNDING

Is funding being sought from any other source towards the cost of this activity?

To be agreed within Steering Group. In principle, a project such as this fits with a diverse range of local, regional, national and even European funding targets. Thus, funding should be sought at every level. Those responsible for delivering targets set out by the Needham Market & Surrounding Areas Health Check (2004) should be approached in the early stages. Suffolk County Council Community Education should be approached with regard to premises. Partnerships and joined-up working with both statutory bodies (eg library) and other community or volunteer groups (eg CSV Media) should also play a key role in funding, for example through joint bids to avoid duplication of services.

12. OTHER INFORMATION

Internet Cafes may service and reflect the communication and information needs of people living in a global society, but they place this in a local context, providing a social space and a convenient and hospitable location for technology access: the ‘human face’ of the information society.

While mainstream industry and government focuses on individual, home and business ownership and use of new ICTs there is a quiet revolution going on as computers and all their applications from games to the Internet move into public spaces. Internet Cafes are not only sites for technical access, and for consumption and use of multimedia content and services, but public, physical, community and cultural spaces.

In contrast to the dominant trend, computers do not have to be kept in private or in formal premises; they can be public and informal. Internet Cafes can be points of individual learning, the informal atmosphere makes it easier to learn, and to experiment. They are the human face of computers and the Internet, technologies and services that are frightening to many people.

Local community access, seeing other people using multimedia, and non-expert help can all act as a trigger to bring someone across the ‘use threshold’. The technology itself, fast changing and new, needs this informal space in order to be appropriated and domesticated into community life.

APPENDIX A – KEY MILESTONES

Timescale Activity

6 months - have a management committee that is truly representative of users.

1 year - users begin to determine strategic direction.

1 year - users begin to diversify, focus broadened to encourage different social groups to mix and communicate.

18 months - targetted programs to encourage the involvement of specific user groups - disabled users, unemployed, etc - those who haven't involved themselves.

2 years - fully integrated community resource space established, hosting meetings, film nights, workshops and presentations.

30 months - diversification of activities to encourage self-sufficiency of operations.

3 years - successful establishment of a self-sustaining, community-run resource centre, gaming station and Internet cafe.

- Last updated 24/9/05