Reports/Case studies

 

The Centre was built in 1963 and despite its flourishing range of activities is beginning to look its age. Run by Portchester Community Association (PCA), a Registered Charity, the organisation sits firmly in what these days is called the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) – sometimes known as the Third Sector. Many people are confused about the VCS. They think people who work in it are all “volunteers” and therefore unpaid – not true: many earn their living through their work although volunteers are extremely important.

 

Others think the Centre is “something to do with the Council”. This is only partly true. The building is owned by Fareham Borough Council, but leased to the charity, which has to find all the money to keep it maintained and functioning properly. The Council does not routinely grant-aid PCA.

 

What’s this got to do with Broadband? PCA like many small charities are usually way ahead of the private and public sectors in terms of flexibility and responding to community needs because they are not-for-profit and less driven by government objectives. Most of the people who work in them are “people-persons”.

 

On the other hand, they are often way behind the other sectors in terms of using technology or innovative techniques, which help organisations – either they haven’t got the money (most are not well off), or investment in such things comes way down the list. It can hold them back in delivering their valuable services. PCA was like that - up until last year when it decided to put in Broadband.

 

Using recycled computers (but still with Windows XP), assistance from volunteers in installing wiring, and free software from Microsoft, suddenly the Centre was on-line and raring to go! How has this helped? Well, we can keep in touch with other similar groups, we can access information relevant to the Voluntary and Community Sector at the touch of a button, and, courtesy of Fareham Community Action (our local “umbrella body”) we have an emerging website. We used it too, when recruiting our new Manager, Alison Fletcher.

 

Best of all, we can access information fast – important when dealing with the public. The Internet is also a useful tool when exploring sources of funding.

 

The next initiative will be participating in Silver Surfers Week (23-26 May 2006), when, like lots of other community centres, we will be helping older citizens to explore and enjoy the wonders of the Internet and email.

 

We might learn a thing or two ourselves! We couldn’t have done that without Broadband

 

www.hants.gov.uk/silversurfers Hampshire Broadband gave us the boost we needed and our crustiest old Charity Trustee has now come round to thinking this is a wonderful invention.

 

They’re even taking part in Silver Surfers themselves.

 

We look forward to a better, technological future – but we never forget our frontline service to the local community.

 

Reg Charity No: 301920