PROJECT SUMMARY

The key aims of the project are:

1) More people to have access to Broadband in rural communities.

2) Increased interest in accessing services to support both Business and Leisure activities in rural communities through the use of Broadband.

3) Increase the usage by rural communities of their Village Halls. Phase 1 - the pilot phase 0607 – consisted of the installation of 4 individual Broadplace “hubs” located within rural Village Halls and an evaluation of the project in readiness for the next phase. Phase 2 (0708) aims to build on the pilot scheme in order to deliver a focused programme, increasing awareness of, and the opportunity for more people to have access to Broadband in rural communities. The project builds on West Somerset’s successful scheme, which provided broadband and training to rural communities through a social enterprise.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Somerset Broadplaces is a joint led project between Connecting Somerset and the Community Council for Somerset, funded through Connecting Somerset – Somerset County Council and the Somerset Rural Renaissance Partnership. Somerset Broadplaces provides ICT equipment and broadband access to communities across Somerset. The aim of the project is to support rural communities, provide access to services and increase the use and interest in broadband to support leisure and business activities. The project employs a part-time Rural Development Worker to co-ordinate the project and is currently funded until March 2008.

The pilot project - in which four village halls in Somerset were given two computers and broadband access for a year – has now been completed. Each “hub” comprises a package of equipment, resources and skills transfer to provide a stand alone, secure, broadband enabled business unit, supported by a remote server.

The four pilot villages, selected through consultation, are in three of the five Somerset districts; Winsham and Ilton in South Somerset, Nunney in Mendip and Berrow in Sedgemoor, none of whom had broadband facilities.

IT support for the project is provided by a small Somerset-based firm (Cetsat) who have worked closely with the project assisting in the purchasing of equipment, arranging the wiring and broadband connections, fitting of the equipment and providing technical support, both to the Rural Development Worker and the pilot villages. An Induction to the equipment was carried out by Cetsat during the installation phase of the equipment. This included the provision of a booklet to each “broadplace hub”.

The Rural Development Worker has been working closely with each pilot village to support the Broadplace project and encourage usage of the facilities. The pilot villages have formed a “self help” network; facilitated by the Rural Development Worker. Examples of good practice between villages have been shared at face to face meetings and through email correspondence. A domain name has also been created for the project. Once this facility has been further developed, it will provide an online means of communication between the Broadplace villages.

The pilot villages have been made aware of the potential support available from the Evolve project , a new project, part of Cosmic which provides face to face as well as web-based ICT support & advice to rural Voluntary and Community Organisations. Winsham and Berrow are now using this resource.

The pilot end report is now available.

The project has used the feedback from these four communities to make improvements to the project for the second phase – the roll out. In the roll out a further 10 communities will be offered the chance to join the project. These communities will join the Broadplaces community and will be offered advice and training to support their communities in using the facilities.

Case study: Winsham

The Jubilee Hall in Winsham is one of the four pilot village halls involved in the Broadplaces project. Members of the community have worked closely with the project to provide invaluable feedback, assisting the development of the project.

At Jubilee Hall, the Broadplace computers and broadband has been used to great effect and is proving popular with the local community.

The most recent development at the hall is the opening of an internet cafe. Tiger’s Oshen Cafe is run by two local community members who provide a space where local residents can come and have refreshments, socialise and use the computers.

The cafe is also proving popular with walkers who can use the cafe as a stop off point on their journey.


The Broadplace computers are being used by other community groups including a self help PC users group and a Saturday morning homework club and the facilities are aiding the hall committee in advertising their hall as a business venue.

www.somersetrcc.org.uk/Somerset%20Broadplaces.htm