24th May 2002
BARNSLEY GETS LICENCE TO DRIVE ON GLOBAL SUPERHIGHWAY

Oaks Millennium community Technology Initiative (OMTI) in Barnsley, supported by Barnsley Development Agency's Community Economic Regeneration Team (CERT), is celebrating being accredited to run the European Computer Driving Licence. Residents in Kendray will soon be able to 'drive' around the superhighway unsupervised, and decide which corner of the globe to visit - all in the comfort of friendly surroundings without a seat belt, at the click of a mouse!

OMTI has been open to the public for six months, and already has over 170 members, proving without any doubt that there is a real demand for this type of facility in the area. On average, around 15-30 people per day use the centre, although this is rising steadily and the number of users increases dramatically to more than 50 per day during the school holidays. As well as the new European Computer Driving Licence, the informal drop in facility for Kendray residents will remain available to users as normal.

Janet Bibby, Team Leader of BDA's CERT Team, commented: "OMTI is a fine example of a community partnership in action, run entirely by the local community for the benefit of that same community. OMTI is not only helping raise the level of education and training in the local community, it is empowering people to see real job opportunities for themselves and take advantage of them.

"Resources of this type can make a real and valuable difference in the overall social and economic regeneration of an area. We are really delighted therefore to be involved, and contributing towards OMTI's aim of becoming a sustainable community enterprise over time."
Mark Holland, project manager at OMTI, said: "The most important element of OMTI is the accessibility to modern technology for those who currently do not have the experience or confidence to deal with computers. We're grateful to Janet Bibby and all of her team at CERT for the help, support and guidance we have received from BDA both in setting up the centre and in getting accredited to run the European Driving Licence."

The European Computer Driving Licence is an accredited course, done at your own pace. There are seven modules, each covering different aspects of computing, eg: Basic Concepts of IT, Managing Files and Folders, and then the more involved modules of MS Office, Internet & e-mail. OMTI has 8 computer systems at the moment, and is hoping to be able to invest in more equipment in the near future. CERT helped the centre secure over £2000 to set up as a centre for the delivery of the European Computer Driving Licence, which enabled the purchase of 60 log books and learning materials.

Oaks Millennium Technology Initiative is the first of three UK Online centres to open in Barnsley funded through the Capital Modernisation Fund, which is made up of the Department of Education & Employment and New Opportunities Fund. Refurbishment work on a Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council House on Farm Road in Kendray was completed in April funded by SRB5 monies, and the group has since been busy pursuing other funding opportunities to enable the centre to operate and develop further. These including the Keyfund and Barnsley Development Agency’s Development Fund.

For further information on OMTI, contact Mark Holland on mark@omti.co.uk.

For further information on CERT, contact the BDA's CERT team on 01226 784444.



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