Minister visits Gilfach Goch Computer Classes . / . Gweinidog yn ymweld â Dosbarthiadau Cyfrifiaduron Gilfach Goch

Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Jeff Cuthbert AM visited Gilfach Goch Community Association last week to see how the Welsh Government’s Communities 2.0 project is helping individuals in the community to learn how to use computers for work and to access essential public services.

Gilfach Goch Community Association runs a total of five weekly work clubs and open access sessions to help people looking for work. With the support of Communities First, they provide a wide range of IT services ranging from setting up an email account to online job applications. They also offer comprehensive support with Universal Jobmatch and job search activities - giving local people access to computer and broadband facilities to help them in their search for employment.

The Minister attended a work club where he met committed Gilfach Goch Community Association volunteer, John Gilchrist. John has volunteered with the organisation since 2011 and has contributed over 2000 hours of his own time since then. John works for the Centre’s Information and Advice Service and produces the publicity material for the Centre as well as running its food co-operative. He facilitates the work clubs and public access drop-in IT sessions.

The Minister commented,

“More services are available digitally than ever before and as we move forward with the digital revolution it’s important that everyone can benefit. Faster broadband speeds and improved online services have enhanced the online experience of those that have embraced technology, but those that haven’t will continue to find it difficult to get a job, progress in their career and increasingly, access public services.

“Four in five people in Wales use the internet and are able to take advantage of the opportunities that the digital world presents. The Welsh Government is committed to helping the one in five who are not yet part of the digital revolution.”

The Minister spoke to Mike Harrison who has been attending the work club since January 2014, and through the help of the work club has recently started a new job as a night porter in a local hotel.

“The work club has given me access to the internet. You can have a laugh and a joke, it gives you a bit more confidence when you’re around people.”

“I’m a landscape gardener by trade, he continued, “and I can use basic websites, but I’m not really IT trained. Uploading an online CV was shown to me here.”

Red Valley, the trading arm of the Gilfach Goch Community Association applied to Communities 2.0 for investment support to improve its facilities for providing community access and training. Gilfach Goch Community Association (GGCA) also contacted Communities 2.0 earlier this year to request support from the National Digital Outreach Programme ‘Now’s the time to get online’ campaign for their open access IT sessions and work clubs provided for members of the local communities in Gilfach Goch, Tonyrefail and the local wider communities.

Communities 2.0 is a European Regional Development Funded Welsh Government project which tackles digital exclusion across Wales.

Cathryn Marcus is Project Director at Communities 2.0. She commented,

“Gilfach Goch Community Association demonstrates that investment in ICT facilities and training will result in tangible benefits within the community.

“Communities 2.0 support is now available in all areas of Wales. To date, thousands who would otherwise remain digitally isolated, have now discovered the rewards of being online.

“Connecting pensioners with loved ones living abroad via Skype; providing unemployed people with qualifications and the ability to find work, and; ensuring disabled individuals can access skills they thought unobtainable; these are just a few examples of what is now available to every person in Wales. Now is the time to get online.”

The Welsh Government and European Regional Development Funded programme provides training free of charge to Welsh residents and is delivered through partnerships with public libraries, job centres and community buildings. Information on free adult ICT session with Communities 2.0 is available from 0845 474 8282 or from local libraries, drop-in centres, post offices or other community venues.

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For further information, please contact David Madge, Marketing and Press Officer on 01792 484005 / 07900 167906

Gweinidog yn ymweld â Dosbarthiadau Cyfrifiaduron Gilfach Goch

Aeth y Gweinidog Cymunedau a Threchu Tlodi, Jeff Cuthbert AC i ymweld â Chymdeithas Gymunedol Gilfach Goch yr wythnos ddiwethaf i weld sut mae prosiect Cymunedau 2.0 Llywodraeth Cymru yn helpu unigolion yn y gymuned i ddysgu sut i ddefnyddio cyfrifiaduron ar gyfer gwaith ac i gael mynediad at wasanaethau cyhoeddus hanfodol.

Mae Cymdeithas Gymunedol Gilfach Goch yn cynnal pum clwb gwaith wythnosol a sesiynau agored i helpu pobl sy'n edrych am waith. Gyda chymorth Cymunedau'n Gyntaf, mae'n darparu ystod eang o wasanaethau TG gan amrywio o sefydlu cyfrif e-bost i geisiadau swydd ar-lein. Mae'r Gymdeithas hefyd yn cynnig cymorth cynhwysfawr gyda Paru Swyddi Ar-lein a gweithgareddau chwilio am waith – gan roi mynediad i bobl leol at gyfrifiadur a chyfleusterau band eang er mwyn eu helpu i chwilio am gyflogaeth.

Aeth y Gweinidog i glwb gwaith lle cyfarfu â gwirfoddolwr ymroddedig o Gymdeithas Gymunedol Gilfach Goch, John Gilchrist. Mae John wedi gwirfoddoli gyda'r sefydliad ers 2011 ac wedi cyfrannu dros 2000 o oriau o'i amser ei hun ers hynny. Mae John yn gweithio i Wasanaeth Gwybodaeth a Chyngor y Ganolfan ac yn cynhyrchu deunyddiau cyhoeddusrwydd ar gyfer y Ganolfan yn ogystal â rhedeg ei menter fwyd gydweithredol. Mae'n hwyluso'r clybiau gwaith a sesiynau TG galw heibio sy'n agored i'r cyhoedd.

Dywedodd y Gweinidog,

"Mae mwy o wasanaethau ar gael yn ddigidol nag erioed o'r blaen ac wrth inni symud ymlaen gyda'r chwyldro digidol mae'n bwysig y gall pawb elwa. Mae cysylltiad band eang cyflymach a gwasanaethau gwell ar-lein wedi gwella'r profiad o fod ar-lein i'r rheini sydd wedi mynd i'r afael â thechnoleg, ond bydd y rhieni nad ydynt wedi gwneud yn parhau i'w chael yn anodd cael swydd, gwneud cynnydd yn eu gyrfa ac yn gynyddol, cael mynediad at wasanaethau cyhoeddus.

"Mae pedwar o bob pum person yng Nghymru yn defnyddio'r rhyngrwyd ac yn gallu manteisio ar y cyfleoedd sydd ar gael yn y byd digidol. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i helpu'r un o bob pum person nad ydynt eto'n rhan o'r chwyldro digidol."

Siaradodd y Gweinidog â Mike Harrison sydd wedi bod yn dod i'r clwb gwaith ers mis Ionawr 2014, a thrwy gymorth y clwb gwaith wedi dechrau swydd newydd yn ddiweddar fel porthor nos mewn gwesty lleol.

"Mae'r clwb gwaith wedi rhoi mynediad at y rhyngrwyd i mi. Rydych chi'n gallu chwerthin a chael jôc, mae'n rhoi ychydig bach mwy o hyder i chi pan rydych chi gyda phobl."

"Rydw i wedi fy hyfforddi fel cynlluniwr gerddi,

aeth ymlaen i ddweud,

"ac rwy'n gallu defnyddio gwefannau syml, ond nid ydw i wedi cael hyfforddiant TG go iawn. Roedden nhw wedi dangos i mi sut i lwytho CV ar-lein yma."

Gwnaeth Red Valley, cangen fasnachol Cymdeithas Gymunedol Gilfach Goch, gais i Cymunedau 2.0 am gymorth buddsoddiad i wella'i chyfleusterau er mwyn darparu mynediad a hyfforddiant i'r gymuned. Cysylltodd Cymdeithas Gymunedol Gilfach Goch â Cymunedau 2.0 hefyd yn gynharach eleni i wneud cais am gymorth gan ymgyrch 'Nawr yw'r amser i fynd ar-lein' y Rhaglen Allgymorth Digidol Genedlaethol ar gyfer eu sesiynau TG mynediad agored a'r clybiau gwaith sydd ar gael i aelodau cymunedau lleol Gilfach Goch, Tonyrefail a'r cymunedau lleol ehangach.

Mae Cymunedau 2.0 yn brosiect Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'i ariannu gan Gronfa Datblygu Rhanbarthol Ewrop sy'n mynd i'r afael ag allgáu digidol ledled Cymru.

Mae Cathryn Marcus yn Gyfarwyddwr Prosiectau i Cymunedau 2.0. Dywedodd,

"Mae Cymdeithas Gymunedol Gilfach Goch yn dangos y bydd buddsoddi mewn cyfleusterau a hyfforddiant TGCh yn arwain at fanteision pendant yn y gymuned.

"Mae cymorth Cymunedau 2.0 ar gael ymhob ardal yng Nghymru bellach. Hyd yn hyn mae miloedd o bobl a fyddai wedi parhau heb fynediad at y byd digidol, wedi darganfod buddion bod ar-lein.

"Mae cysylltu pensiynwyr â'u hanwyliaid sy'n byw dramor trwy Skype; rhoi cymwysterau a'r gallu i ddod o hyd i waith i bobl ddi-waith, a; sicrhau y gall unigolion anabl gael mynediad at sgiliau nad oeddent yn meddwl yr oedd modd eu cael; yn rhai enghreifftiau o'r hyn sydd ar gael bellach i bob person yng Nghymru. Nawr yw'r amser i fynd ar-lein."

Mae'r rhaglen sydd wedi'i hariannu gan Lywodraeth Cymru a Chronfa Datblygu Rhanbarthol Ewrop yn darparu hyfforddiant am ddim i breswylwyr Cymru a chaiff ei chyflwyno trwy bartneriaethau â llyfrgelloedd cyhoeddus, canolfannau gwaith ac adeiladau cymunedol.

Mae gwybodaeth am sesiynau TGCh am ddim i oedolion gyda Cymunedau 2.0 ar gael ar 0845 474 8282 neu o lyfrgelloedd lleol, canolfannau galw heibio, swyddfeydd post neu leoliadau cymunedol eraill.