SYDENHAM COMMUNITY RADIO STATION

Sydenham Community Radio Station is a radio station for Sydenham and the surrounding area. It is located within the building of Eco Computer Systems' Sydenham branch. It was developed by local people to build a stronger community through functioning and participation.

When tuned in, there is a wide variety of both music and talk shows available.  Training is also available for anyone wishing to participate.

ECS supports the station in a number of ways, including accommodation and funding to maintain its sustainability. For further information and of broadcasting listings please log onto www.sydenhamradio.co.uk/

DIGITAL INCLUSION

The digital technology has impacted on almost every aspect of modern society, creating huge social benefits. It has changed and improved how we work, how we are entertained, how we communicate with each other, and how we obtain information and knowledge for our benefit.

Unfortunately not all these benefits are enjoyed by all. While the majority of people in the UK are active participants in the digital revolution, these benefits are not reaching all.

Inequality in the use and application of digital technologies is a new driver of social exclusion in the 21st century.  There is evidence of the links between digital disengagement and social disadvantage; the knowledge 'gaps' concerning the links between people who do not use technology and social deprivation.

The project is tackling digital inclusion by offering various aspects of computer training to the disadvantaged and to the elderly, providing better community cohesion for these groups and improvement of life choices/chances?

Career Development Group (CDG) is a training organisation supporting long-term unemployed people to improve their quality of life, through an employability programme which supports people to increase their skills and qualifications to enable them to move into work.

ECO works in partnership with CDG by providing computer training and work experience for the unemployed. At present we have 12 unemployed people learning how to rebuild and repair old computers.

For further information on CDG and its service delivery visit: http://www.cdguk.org.uk

Goldsmiths College

We have worked with the college's design department. We donated expensive scanner parts for a design project. Having this donated this saved the students a considerable amount of money. They were creating an innovative electronic rotating table for their design project, which needed a great amount of scanner ribbon parts.

We are developing further future projects with Goldsmiths College in other departments to assistance students in building on their skills in areas of Business and IT.

SUPPORTING ARTISTS

NICK GENTRY

Nick Gentry is a London based artist that requires floppy disks for his work.  ECS is supporting him by providing him with floppy discs to create his art work. We are pro-actively sourcing and requesting floppies from various sources including our partners to assist Nick Gentry.

To view his work visit: www.nickgentry.co.uk/index.html

JOOLS JOHNSON

Since 2007 Jools has been working on an art project that utilizes parts of old, redundant computers. In the past, these were usually sourced at his local council recycling site. Wherever possible he used computers that were beyond any state of repair, as it is not his intention to deprive anyone of an opportunity to use a reconditioned computer.

By June 2010 he hopes to create his largest sculpture yet from recycled computer parts for an exhibition at PM House & Gallery, London (Open July 2nd - August 29th). However, he was struggling to acquire the parts to make the artwork. His local recycling centre disposes of IT materials through contracted recycling companies and therefore is no longer able to assist him.

He then wrote to ECS in the hope that we may be able to assist in sourcing the relevant parts to make this sculpture possible.

In March 2010, we provided Jools with around 50 metal computer cases.  To obtain these metal components we dismantled the system unit ourselves and saved Jools considerable time and
recycled any remaining parts.

The art project has raised a positive environmental message regarding recycling that has evolved into visually interesting artworks exhibited nationally and internationally.  In addition, this has led for his project being awarded a 'Sustainable Art Award' in 2009 and also included in exhibitions that raise environmental awareness, such as 'Climate for Change' London 2007.

Images of the artwork and further information about this project, entitled 'God Lives in Detail' can be viewed on www.joolsjohnson.com/


FUTURE PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE

On-line Learning

We have acquired another premises located in the Deptford area in the heart of the community by the river front. Associating with Hyde Housing and other partners such as Lewisham Library, Lewisham Homes and In Touch, we are expecting to deliver various community geared services including on-line learning.

We would be offering training to people on the familiar Microsoft Office software which includes Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint. This would help in the development of skills and improve employment prospects.

Dyslexic Centres

What is Dyslexia?

The specific learning difficulty 'Dyslexia' is not a disease and is a condition that cannot, as such, be 'cured'. However, strategies can be employed to overcome most of the difficulties. Many dyslexic individuals have their dyslexic brains to thank for their enhanced skills in certain areas.

We have found that there is a need for dyslexic centres in the community to offer various help, support and training. Darren himself is dyslexic and knows first-hand the difficulties that are associated.

Darren would like to create two centres. At the moment we have one situated in our Sydenham branch. Here people could learn on the TTRS system (Touch, Type, Read, and Spell) which targets the fundamental difficulties faced by dyslexics. The system is available for all, including
non- dyslexics. We have had senior residents using it to learn touch typing.

We are in the development stage in the provision and service delivery. This includes reviewing other software suitable for dyslexic learning.