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A Chance for All to Enjoy Their First Time Online
Photo Call: Wigan Warriors players and Billy
Boston will be teaming up with Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust staff to
launch First Time Online at Ashton Library at 1.30pm on Thursday 14th
September. Contact: Chris Dunbar, 01942 486937.
They say you never forget your first time. So when it comes to providing
the public with the skills they need to use the internet, Wigan Leisure
and Culture Trust are amongst the first to help break down the barriers
of cyberspace.
First Time Online, is part of a new initiative to get more people in the
UK using the internet, is being introduced at Wigan Borough’s libraries
from September 18th. A series of short free taster sessions that aim to
provide people with advice about the how to use the internet and what
benefits it can bring, will take place at eight libraries across the
borough until April.
Free internet access has long been available at the Wigan Borough’s
libraries and there are 184 terminals available across the borough
through the people’s network. It is hoped that through First Time Online
more people will become able to use the internet and access the web for
a variety of benefits including:
• finding out information about local services
• organising benefits and council tax
• shopping for goods and holidays
• searching for new jobs.
Richard Allen, Project Development Officer for Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust, says, “The purpose of ‘First Time Online’ is to show people of
all ages and abilities the benefits of using the internet and how it can
improve their everyday life. These sessions are ideally suited for
people who may not have prior knowledge of computers. I would urge
anyone who is curious about the internet to sign up soon for one of our
free courses.”
All members of the public who sign up for one of the courses during
September will receive a free ‘First Time Online’ mug.
Wigan Rugby League legend, Billy Boston, thinks the scheme is a great
idea, “I’m new to computers myself, but this really has opened my eyes.
I didn’t even know you could pay your bills over the internet! I think
it is a great initiative and it is brilliant that you only have to go to
your local library to use the internet for free.”
For further information, or to sign up for one the courses, please
contact your local library or call Richard Allen on 01942 486975 for
further details. Register for a session in person on anyone of the
following dates:
• Monday 18th September, 2 - 4pm at Ashton Library
• Tuesday 19th September, 11am - 1pm at Marsh Green Library
• Wednesday 20th September, 11am – 1pm at Atherton Library
• Wednesday 20th September, 2 – 4pm at Hindley Library
• Thursday 21st September, 9.30 -10.30am at Ince Library
• Thursday 21st September, 10am -12pm at Leigh Library
• Thursday 21st September, 11.30am – 1.30pm at Tyldesley Library
• Thursday 21st September, 4 – 6pm at Wigan Library
First Time Online is a UFI (University for Industry) initiative being
delivered at UK online centres across the country. All 16 of Wigan
Borough’s libraries are officially recognised as UK online centres.
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this News Release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Public Relations Officer, Wigan Leisure and
Culture Trust on 01942 486937 or at
c.dunbar@wlct.org.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org.
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s vision to ensure that people across the Wigan Borough have the
opportunity to become more physically, mentally and creatively active.
It also aims to increase community activity and to encourage good
citizenship.
University For Industry: The concept of a ‘University for Industry’ led
to the creation of UFI in 1998. The organisation then established the
learndirect brand, which in five years has individualised the delivery
of learning to a mass audience through a unique combination of
flexibility, accessibility, support and brand presence.
Since its launch in October 2000, more than two million learners have
taken learndirect courses in subjects ranging from the Skills for Life
of literacy and numeracy to languages, management, English for Speakers
of Other Languages and IT at all levels.
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