For the first time the Edinburgh Internet Festival is set to enter the sphere of politics by including in this year’s event a proposal for an innovative new combined training provision and community web development project centred around a new community information, advice and news website - produced and maintained by a team of disabled and socially isolated individuals - working through the initiative to develop new skills with a view to obtaining full time employment.
The training supplied would aim to provide a structure best suited to the individual client's needs and abilities and would seek to install confidence and develop communication skills in addition to the computer tuition provided.
The website would aim to assist in regeneration of local communities by the provision of promotion and publicity services for creative and community based events, projects, services and organisations which currently receive little or no support from traditional media resources.
Alongside promoting local community news and events, the initiative would seek to develop a range of new web based initiatives aiming to provide a greater level of resident’s participation in the online promotion of the city of Edinburgh.
The initiative combines the latest in digital technology with traditional training methods and volunteer participation in a new approach to dealing with training and work provision for those on incapacity benefits. Whilst specifically created with Edinburgh in mind – the basic concept could also be applied and adapted to cover almost any region within the UK and in particular those areas with high levels of unemployment and social inclusion issues.
“The concept is based upon my own experiences both as a community worker of 20 years standing and as someone living on long-term incapacity benefits. The creative elements of the proposal have been developed from the skills and experience I have gained hosting the Edinburgh Internet Festival combined with my volunteer work across a number of web based community projects. When combined I believe my experience provides me with a unique insight and perspective which I have channelled into the creation of this proposal.
The cornerstone of the proposal is my passionate belief that digital and web technology offers exciting new possibilities for combating fundamental issues within local communities such as social exclusion and unemployment.
I also strongly believe that disabled people need to be included - and encouraged - to participate in the creation, implementation and development of initiatives aimed at providing opportunities to escape from benefits and re-enter employment.” - P.Steele. 2008
Further Information will be online via the Edinburgh Internet Festival 008 home page at www.scotfestival.com from 1st July 2008
To view an advance preview copy of the proposal E-mail: pol@scotfestival.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment