Digital inclusion initiative

In addition to this, when the opportunity arose to take on a film-making project for young people, the ‘Friends’ group was keen to make this exciting opportunity available to students at the college.

• Participants who had no ICT skills at the start of the project now email the tutor when they are unable to attend class;
• Two participants in the original training, who were socially and educationally excluded, have gone on to excel in the use of computers; they have achieved OCNs in further training, following referrals; two have gone on to employment; 
• A group of young people worked on the film project during the 2008 Easter holidays, using industry standard film equipment, such as ‘green screen technology’ and HD cameras;
• Young beneficiaries also learnt to use the project’s mini DV cameras and software such as Garage Band, iMovie, iPlayer;
• The participants chose to make a music video and worked with a professional band from Aberdare, using their own film footage;
• The committed and enthusiastic young people who took part described the project experience as “awesome”;
• Their film was entered in the Co-operative Young Filmmaker awards, and will be screened in Bradford early in October 2008;
• As a spin-off from the film activity, a 10-week course was run through Zoom Cymru, covering stage fighting, special effects make-up, lighting, staging, costume design through recycling, set design.

• IT Training - Individuals who would not usually access training have enjoyed their IT classes, largely because of the informal, learner-led approach of the tutor. The sessions have had to be flexible and dynamic in what they offered, and responded to the learning ambitions of the participants.
• Film Project – Staff from the locally-based ‘Tantrwm’ media services agency were more than happy with the commitment of the participants, who learned valuable skills to continue to use the equipment in the future. They had learnt a lot by the end of the project and created work of a high standard.

IT training: The community classes will continue for as long as possible, subject to funding

Film project: The equipment and skills learnt will be widely used as part of an out-of-school-hours activities program. The range of projects and individuals that could benefit includes:

·      Equipment hire on a not-for-profit basis to other community groups and charities;

·      Young peoples’ films created using the equipment will be entered into the Zoom Cymru film festival, January 2009.

Following screening of the film at the Co-operative Young Film Makers’ Festival in Bradford on 10 October 2008:

Beneficiary, Denise Stone said: “It was a great opportunity to see the video that I helped to make and to have the chance to make another video” (Denise hardly put the mini DV-cam down for the whole two day trip)

Fellow group member, Rachel Holley said: “It felt really good to see the video on the big screen! I really enjoyed making the video as it was great fun and it taught me a lot. I can’t wait to get another opportunity to make another one!”

Rachel has now gone on to the University of Glamorgan to study a Foundation Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, with the intention to progress to the BSc [Hons] Live Event Technology course.