SPOTLIGHT ON BLETCHLEY
The focus of the Spotlight Office is to provide information, advice and training which will improve the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of residents on the Lakes estate.
Paula Collinson, the Spotlight Co-ordinator, started on the 2nd November and has been busy meeting residents and local groups. The Town Council’s ideal is that local people should take an active part in the Spotlight office and Paula would love to hear your views and ideas.
Volunteers Needed
It is hoped that the Spotlight office will be open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Fridays and 10am to 1pm on Saturdays but this will only be possible if Paula can get a rota of volunteers to help her. Paula is looking for local residents who are friendly, enjoy meeting people and have an hour or two to spare each week. If you think you might like to help just pop in and say ‘Hello’ to Paula.
Following extensive refurbishment, the Spotlight office is proud to have opened its’ doors again on Saturday 10th October. Throughout the summer months, walls have been knocked down, a new disabled toilet installed, new electrics and IT equipment put in.
The Spotlight office can now offer community space for meetings, IT learning, drop ins and general information about what is happening on the Lakes estate. A number of groups and organisations can already be found at Spotlight offering help and advice to local residents and we hope to expand on that in the very near future.
A particularly exciting project is the UK Online IT Learning sessions. The Town Council along with MK College, made a bid to open a UK Online Centre from the Spotlight Office. The UK Online centre provides local residents with drop in and structured IT sessions. Residents can call into the Spotlight Office and learn new skills, use various computer packages and get a recognised qualification at the end of their learning. Some learning will be structured with set lessons whilst others will be on-line learning, with drop in sessions.
Spotlight
It is now 6 months since Bletchley & Fenny Stratford Town Council re-launched the Spotlight Office on Serpentine Court.
The main office and the annex have under gone quite a transformation
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The ‘shop’ window has been rebranded with Bletchley & Fenny Stratford Town Council logo, a new logo for Spotlight
And a new telephone number 01908 - 645021 |
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The main area has clearly defined areas which Spotlight on ….
Information Pick up leaflets, newsletters |
Training UK Online and basic computer courses
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Meeting Coffee Mornings and informal meeting place. There are toys available to occupy under 5’s |
On average 40+ residents call in each week for information, advice or training from one of the services which hold regular sessions.
Unfortunately in February Paula, the Spotlight Coordinator took ill suddenly and has to have an operation in May which means she will be off work for some time, in order to minimise the effect of Paula’s absence, Bletchley & Fenny Stratford Town Council have made the decision to reduce the opening hours for Spotlight until she is fully recovered.
All the services and activities currently running will still be available but please check details below as the day or time may be different:
Coffee Morning - Moved to a Monday and Wednesday morning 10.30 to 12 noon this is hosted by Lakes Residents Association and Neighbourhood Action Group came along for a chat and a coffee.
Computer Drop-in – Monday, Wednesday and Fridays 10.30 to 12 noon this is an opportunity to use the computers for your own research, writing letters, cv’s and applying for jobs etc – this is not a training session so tutors will not be available to help you. The computers are not set up for Facebook or for playing music.
UK Online Computer training takes place on a Monday from 2 to 4pm. These sessions are for people with little or no knowledge of using computers or the internet and even mobile phones. So whether you have never used a computer or haven’t used one for a long time. Come along and Cathryn the tutor will help you.
If you have problems with neighbour disputes e.g. noise, boundaries, and anti social behaviour come along on a Monday between 1.30 and 2.30 and talk to a worker from Bletchley Community Mediation Project.
Young people can visit Brook sessions on a Wednesday or Friday between 2.30 and 4.30 the advice is free and confidential. They can help with pregnancy testing, Chlamydia testing, condoms, emergency pill, most forms of contraception and general information and advice.
Parents and carers of young children can call in on Wednesdays between 2.30 and 4.30 to talk to Miriam, the Lakes Estate Community Mobiliser to find out what help and activities are available for families with younger children.
On Fridays between 2.30 and 4.30 Jan Philips, Lakes Regeneration Officer will be available to discuss any issues regarding the future regeneration of the Lakes Estate, pick up the Newsletter and find out what the local working groups are doing on the Estate. If you have any ideas for improving the area or any concerns come along and talk to her.
Spotlight Timetable
Mondays |
Coffee Morning & Computer Drop-in |
Community Mediation |
UK Online Training |
Tuesday |
CLOSED |
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Wednesdays |
Coffee Morning & Computer Drop-in |
Community Mobiliser |
Brook |
Thursday |
CLOSED |
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Fridays |
Computer Drop-in |
Lakes |
Brook |
Saturday |
CLOSED |
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Plans are underway to offer more training at Spotlight these could include Job searching, Writing CVs, Turning a hobby into a business, Introduction to Ebay Buying and Selling. If you are interested in any of these courses or would like to suggest other courses please let us know by telephoning Jane Forder on 01908-633781 or email Jane.Forder@bfstc.co.uk.
For more info on UK Online - Click here to visit their website
For information on our mediation service Click here
For our timetable Click here
Spotlight office – see the window for details or call MK 645014
See our website www.bfstc.co.uk
Town Council offices on 649469
Spotlight on Bletchley Office
102/102a Serpentine Court
Lakes Estate
Bletchley
MK2 3QL
Tel No: 01908 645021
Paula Collinson
Local Community Advisor
spotlight@bfstc.co.uk