Phase 1 of the Project
Mapping ICTs across Redcar and Cleveland
(November 2008 – August 2009 and ongoing)
In the first phase of our project, the Community Research Network undertook a ‘mapping exercise’ to identify and log the number and location of ICT organisations and services in Redcar and Cleveland. The aim of this phase was to provide a wide-scale picture of access to ICTs for community members. The information that we gathered is currently being entered into a digital map which will show the geographical location of ICT organisations and services and basic information about what is on offer.
Methods
Our research adopted a ‘community mapping’ approach which is defined as ‘local mapping, produced collaboratively, by local people and often incorporating alternative local knowledge’ (Perkins, 2007: 127).
Our community researchers distributed short questionnaires to a wide range of service providers across Redcar and Cleveland.
The digital map is currently being developed by Prof Mike Lockyer, of Teesside University’s School of Computing and Maths. We will be rolling this out in 2010.
Initial Findings
So far, 33 organisations have taken part in our mapping research and we are very grateful for their participation.
We have engaged with a diverse range of organisations including: ICT-related organisations and businesses such as UK Online centres and Internet cafes; local community centres, village halls and pubs; and organisations from a wide range of sectors including: social care, children’s services, advice and guidance, older people’s services, mental health, learning disabilities, employment, leisure and the youth service.
Of the 33 organisations which participated, 12 operated an open access policy for all community members to use their ICT facilities and 15 were restricted access for registered service users only.
19 of our organisations told us that they had Broadband access. 6 had no internet service available for community members.
Most of the organisations had either desktop PCs or laptops for community members to use.
There are a number of facilities for learning about computers and the internet in the region. Types of training range from basic, unaccredited courses for beginners (n=12 centres) through to NVQs (n=4 centres) and the University Certificate of Personal Development (UCPD) in computing (n=3 centres).