Communities top of the agenda as Minister for the North West sees success of computer scheme
Monday 16 March 2009
Members of the Joint Economic Commission for the North West are focusing on the effects the economic downturn is having on local communities especially the most vulnerable groups, who are in danger of being left further behind.
After a meeting of the Commission in the offices of urban regeneration company New East Manchester Ltd, the Minister for the North West met local residents who have benefited from the innovative Eastserve scheme.
Beverley Hughes said: “Access to low cost computers, internet access and training is a real help during the current economic climate. Evidence shows that Eastserve customers have used the service to find employment.
"The expansion and upgrade of the service will give more people the opportunity to search for work, apply for jobs and find the training and support they need.
"The JEC is concerned that people can access proper advice on debt and finances in the current economic downturn. Eastserve helps people to find excellent support from key sources like the Government’s Real Help Now document and from the National Debtline and Citizens Advice Bureau web site.
"Eastserve has helped improve ICT skills, through training sessions, but also simply through increased computer use. ICT literacy is essential in many jobs, so this service is playing a crucial role in opening new opportunities the local community and encouraging social mobility.”
Shirley Hughes was one resident whose life has been changed by Eastserve. Originally, Shirley couldn’t use a computer but, after receiving one through the project, took a range of IT courses and is now an IT tutor at Manchester College, a local further education college.
The Minister also announced that Eastserve has now signed up a private sector partner Symera Technologies, to expand the network beyond East Manchester. The JEC meeting followed the recent launch by the Prime Minister of ‘Real Help for the North West’, a booklet setting out help that is available now to businesses and families in the region and where to find it.
The booklet is available at: www.realhelpnow.gov.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Joint Economic Commission (JEC) was set up by Minister for the North West Beverley Hughes to help fight the North West’s corner during the current difficult economic climate and to ensure the region emerges stronger than before.
2. The JEC brings together business leaders, local authorities, Government Office for the North West, the Northwest Regional Development Agency and public agencies like Jobcentre Plus, the Learning and Skills Council, the Strategic Health Authority, the Highways Agency and the Homes and Communities Agency. For more details visit www.gonw.gov.uk
3. The Minister also sits on the Regional Economic Council in Westminster. This enables Regional Ministers to report back to the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on the effects of the downturn in their regions.
4. To date the JEC has achieved:
• Enhanced support for business available via Business Link
• Nearly 3,000 business health checks delivered
• Over £0.5m in loan funding to start ups, growth businesses and social enterprises
• £10m Transitional Loan Fund launched in December – over £1m loans approved for companies which have lost access to short term bank finance
• Public infrastructure and investment projects approved include Bolton and Liverpool Colleges, West Cumbria Hospital and Liverpool Edge Lane and Hall lane improvements.
• Accelerated and safeguarded apprenticeship programmes
• Rapid response team for redundancies currently dealing with 12 cases
5. New East Manchester Ltd was one of the UK’s first Urban Regeneration Companies. It was set up to lead the physical regeneration of the area, coordinate and integrate social / community and economic initiatives and market and promote the area to new businesses and residents ensuring a sustainable future.
6. The Eastserve Project was set up in 2000 to close the digital divide in the New East Manchester area by providing opportunities for local residents to purchase subsidised PCs, undertake IT tuition and have affordable internet access. As a result over 5.5000 local residents have received a subsidised computer and been on computer training courses. Over a third of Eastserve users consider it has improved their job prospects.
