These eReading Rooms aspire to put informal learning at the heart of communities, where knowledge and information can be shared to help people enhance their skills. Birmingham Settlement will be providing members of the community with the opportunity to access ‘The Learning Zone’ to learn about any topic they are interested in, from gardening to history. We will offer the latest technology for people to access the site and provide a friendly and helpful environment for their interests to grow.

This is a great way for members of the community to explore their interests and gain new knowledge and skills, but also to enhance their computer and Internet skills.

Head of Development, Meena Bharadwa and I set off for a very humid London on Tuesday to share UK Online’s celebration of one million learners accessing the internet. The afternoon was kindly hosted by Facebook’s UK office and we had a great tour of what goes on there. Facebook’s Director of Policy chatted about the importance of the work that UK Online Centres do in helping to reduce social exclusion across the country and UK Online’s Managing Director, Helen Milner provided an inspiring insight into the work that’s already been carried out, compelling us towards another million! To see more about the impact that this work is having in the UK check out Helen Milner‘s blog.   It was a great day all round and we met some fantastic organisations involved in this work like Action Acton. We chatted to one of their volunteers who had previously been a UK Online learner. He saw so much value in what Action Acton do that he now volunteers to support other people get online and involved. Birmingham Settlement is a registered UK Online Centre and we’ve got some great stories like the one below about how people are benefiting from a bit of support to get online.

If you’re looking for work and want to refine your CV, develop great interview skills or want to find out how the Internet and digital technology can support your job search come along to find out more. Our netWORK sessions will look specifically at using social media and digital tools to portray a positive image of yourself and help you to connect with potential employers in new ways.

If you’ve got skills you would like to share then we’re also looking for volunteers to support the delivery of Job Club sessions. We’re particular looking for people who have some experience in IT, but anybody who has some knowledge they would like to share can help out.

The Job Club runs every Tuesday from 1pm-3pm at the Centre for the Aston Family.

For further information about the Job Club please contact Sourour Trevelyan on 0121 250 0771 or sourour.trevelyan@bsettlement.org.uk

Image thanks to Niall Kennedy.

Capacity-building for smaller organisations…

Image thanks to Adopt a Negotiator.

Aston and the surrounding inner city areas…

Image thanks to Elliot Brown.

Digital inclusion and how technology and social media can benefit our work…

Image thanks to Michael Surran.

Localism and how to strengthen local networks, culture and identity…

Image thanks to Nick Booth.

People and how they can make the most of their community.

Image thanks to Matthew Kenwrick.

Please see each vacancy page for further information:

• Development Manager: http://birminghamsettlement.org.uk/vacancy/development-manager/
• Development Officer: http://birminghamsettlement.org.uk/vacancy/development-officer/
• Development Assistant: http://birminghamsettlement.org.uk/vacancy/development-assistant/

Birmingham Settlement has been funded by UK Online to be a UK Online Centre. The purpose of Online Centres is to encourage and support people who do not use the internet or other digital technology, to do so.

We are recruiting Digital Champions. A Digital Champion is anyone who shows, or supports another person to get online. Some of our Digital Champions volunteer at our Centre for the Aston Family, by spending a couple of hours a week supporting new IT users at our cyber suite. If you would like to volunteer to simply help someone new to computers to access the internet, contact Sourour Trevelyan on 0121 250 3003.

We are also working with Digital Partners. One way of being a digital partner is for an agency to provide very cheap or free access to the internet, and actively support people to get online. We can support agencies which sign up as Digital Partners to become UK Online Centres so that they can access funding to train staff and volunteers. They can also raise money by offering free access to online courses. But you don’t have to become a UK Online centre to be one of our digital partners. For instance, Environmental Computer (Recycling and Removals Ltd) have supported our work by donating free, reconditioned computers to small organisations who could not afford new IT equipment. If you are interested in your organisation becoming one of our digital partners, contact Sourour Trevelyan on 0121 250 3003.

If you or any of your friends and family would like support in using the internet, we can give you free and friendly advice and support. Simply ring Sourour Trevelyan on the number above or visit the Centre for the Aston Family; 359/361 Witton Road, Aston, Birmingham, B6 6NS.

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