Computer use in Blaenau Gwent Libraries increases by a quarter since the launch of Get Blaenau Gwent Online. /Cynnydd o chwarter yn y defnydd o gyfrifiaduron yn Llyfrgelloedd Blaenau Gwent ers lansio Dewch Ar-lein Blaenau Gwent.

Computer use in Blaenau Gwent Libraries has experienced a significant increase since the launch of ‘Get Blaenau Gwent Online’ in April 2013. Libraries in the county borough are experiencing an increased demand for basic IT support. With more and more services becoming ‘digital by default’ the demand has increased by 26% which is directly attributable to the success of the Get Blaenau Gwent Online initiative.

Get Blaenau Gwent Online works with local groups and organisations to provide free computer sessions to people who want get online, learn how to use the web and realise its benefits. It combines a number of projects in the county all aimed at helping individuals, community groups and enterprises get online. New technology skills are becoming as important as reading and writing, and those who do not have those skills are likely to become increasingly economically and socially disadvantaged. The Digital Inclusion agenda is about improving people’s lives; helping people to communicate more easily, purchase goods for lower prices, and about being able to access public services more easily. Digital inclusion is also about reducing social isolation.

Gethin Hunt, Digital Inclusion Officer for the project, is delivering one-to-one sessions in all six libraries in Blaenau Gwent, 

“Sessions are tailored to the needs of the customer, including support for job-seekers, accessing social media, e-mailing, and help for those seeking money saving advice. The project takes the fear out of IT, by demonstrating the positive aspects of how getting online can improve your life”.

Gethin encourages customers to continue to access the IT facilities in libraries after their initial sessions with the project. Many customers have progressed onto further learning opportunities, and others have explored new hobbies such as family history. For some customers, the help they have received has resulted in job opportunities.

Get Blaenau Gwent Online has been made possible through partnership working between the local authority, various community partners and the Welsh Government’s digital inclusion programme, Communities 2.0, which is supported by European Regional Development Funding.

The initiative has also benefitted from the support of several local Registered Social Landlords including Linc who have donated memory sticks to help beneficiaries have a mobile method of saving work such as letters to employers, CVs and other important correspondence. They are hoping to provide more memory sticks to the libraries in the near future to support the initiative.

Councillor Hayden Trollope, Executive Member for Social Services – Adult Services, and Digital Champion at Blaenau Gwent Council, said:

“The Council and its communities have really embraced this exciting project. It is an example of successful partnership working with huge benefits to both local people and the local authority.”

Cathryn Marcus, Project Director of Communities 2.0 sees the increase in usage as evidence of the continued high demand for support for individuals to access the internet,

“We are delighted that the Get Blaenau Gwent Online initiative has been so successful in such a short period of time. It is imperative that everybody in Wales has access to the internet for communication, for learning opportunities and to ensure they have the same access to jobs and money saving advice as those who have access to the internet in their own home. Libraries, and the local authorities who support them, are the essential backbone to our work”.

Feedback from customers using the facilities illustrates the range of ICT support needs that can be met with projects such as Get Blaenau Gwent Online.

Sian is a customer at Blaina Library:

“I have been coming to the library every week since August with the ‘Get BlaenauGwent Online’ project. I had never used a computer before and I felt like I was being left behind. I am now able to use e-mail, shop online and I have saved money with buying my car insurance. I am starting to think about returning to work soon, I feel confident now I have the skills for applying for jobs online”.

Lindsay,a customer at Ebbw Vale Library is setting up her own business:

“I have had great help from Gethin with the Get Blaenau Gwent Online project. My business is now on e-Bay and I am now able to promote it on Facebook – it is really taking off! It has been great to just pop into the library, when it is convenient for me”

Julie Hales is Senior Library Assistant at Ebbw Vale Library:

“The ‘Get BlaenauGwent Online’ project has really helped us reduce our waiting list for sessions in the library. Gethin delivers the ‘Digital Friday’ sessions at Ebbw Vale library every week and the customer feedback we have received has been excellent. The project is a real asset to the library service - it has attracted new users and increased library membership. It appeals to our customers as the sessions are tailored to what they want to learn, without the need to attend formal lessons”.

Further information about Get Blaenau Gwent Online is available on www.getblaenaugwentonline.org.uk or by calling Mark Robbins, Digital Inclusion Co-ordinator on 01485 355457.

Further information about Communities 2.0 is available at www.communities2point0.org or by calling 0845 474 8282

Mae cynnydd sylweddol wedi bod yn y defnydd o gyfrifiaduron ym Mlaenau Gwent ers lansio ‘Dewch Ar-lein Blaenau Gwent’ ym mis Ebrill 2013. Mae llyfrgelloedd yn y fwrdeistref sirol yn profi galw uwch am gymorth TG sylfaenol. Gyda mwy a mwy o wasanaethau’n dod yn ‘ddigidol yn ddiofyn’ mae’r galw wedi cynyddu 26% sydd i’w briodoli’n uniongyrchol i lwyddiant y fenter Dewch Ar-lein Blaenau Gwent.

Mae Dewch Ar-lein Blaenau Gwent yn gweithio gyda grwpiau a sefydliadau lleol i ddarparu sesiynau cyfrifiadurol rhad-ac-am-ddim ar gyfer pobl sy’n dymuno mynd ar-lein, dysgu sut i ddefnyddio’r we a gwireddu ei manteision. Mae’n cyfuno nifer o brosiectau yn y sir y mae pob un ohonynt wedi’u bwriadu i helpu unigolion, grwpiau cymunedol a mentrau i fynd ar-lein.

Mae sgiliau technoleg newydd yn dod i fod mor bwysig â darllen ac ysgrifennu, ac mae’r rheiny nad ydynt yn meddu ar y sgiliau hynny’n debygol o ddod yn fwyfwy difreintiedig yn economaidd ac yn gymdeithasol. Mae a wnelo’r agenda Cynhwysiant Digidol â gwella bywydau pobl; helpu pobl i gyfathrebu’n rhwyddach, prynu nwyddau am brisiau is, a gallu cael mynediad rhwyddach at  wasanaethau cyhoeddus. Mae a wnelo cynhwysiant digidol hefyd â lleihau arwahanrwydd cymdeithasol.

Mae Gethin Hunt, Swyddog Cynhwysiant Digidol y prosiect, yn darparu sesiynau un-i-un ym mhob un o’r chwe llyfrgell ym Mlaenau Gwent, 

“Mae’r sesiynau’n cael eu teilwra i weddu i anghenion y cwsmer, gan gynnwys cymorth i bobl sy’n ceisio gwaith, cymorth i gael mynediad at y cyfryngau cymdeithasol, e-bostio, a help i’r rheiny sy’n dymuno cael cyngor ynghylch arbed arian. Mae’r prosiect yn cael gwared â’r ofn y mae TG yn ei godi ar bobl, trwy ddangos yr agweddau cadarnhaol a sut y gall mynd ar-lein wella eich bywyd”. 

Mae Gethin yn annog cwsmeriaid i barhau i ddefnyddio’r cyfleusterau TG mewn llyfrgelloedd ar ôl eu sesiynau cychwynnol gyda’r prosiect. Mae nifer o gwsmeriaid wedi camu ymlaen at gyfleoedd dysgu pellach, ac mae eraill wedi archwilio diddordebau newydd megis hanes eu teulu. I rai cwsmeriaid, mae’r cymorth y maent wedi’i gael wedi arwain at gyfleoedd gwaith. 

Fe wnaed Dewch Ar-lein Blaenau Gwent yn bosib trwy waith mewn partneriaeth rhwng yr awdurdod lleol, amryw bartneriaid cymunedol a rhaglen cynhwysiant digidol Llywodraeth Cymru, Cymunedau 2.0, a gefnogir â chyllid o Gronfa Datblygu Rhanbarthol Ewrop.

Mae’r fenter hefyd wedi elwa o gefnogaeth gan saith Landlord Cymdeithasol Cofrestredig lleol gan gynnwys Linc sydd wedi cyflwyno cofbinnau yn rhodd i helpu buddiolwyr i sefydlu dull symudol o gadw gwaith megis llythyrau at gyflogwyr, CVs a gohebiaeth bwysig arall. Maent yn gobeithio darparu mwy o gofbinnau ar gyfer y llyfrgelloedd yn y dyfodol agos i gefnogi’r fenter.

Meddai’r Cynghorydd Haydn Trollope, yr Aelod Gweithredol dros Wasanaethau Cymdeithasol – Gwasanaethau Oedolion, a’r Hyrwyddwr Digidol yng Nghyngor Blaenau Gwent:

“Mae’r Cyngor a’i gymunedau wedi cofleidio’r prosiect cyffrous yma o ddifrif. Mae’n enghraifft o waith llwyddiannus mewn partneriaeth sy’n dwyn manteision enfawr i bobl leol a’r awdurdod lleol.”

Mae Cathryn Marcus, Cyfarwyddwr Prosiect Cymunedau 2.0, yn ystyried bod y cynnydd mewn defnydd yn dystiolaeth o’r galw uchel parhaus am gymorth i unigolion gael mynediad at y Rhyngrwyd,

“Rydym wrth ein bodd bod y fenter Dewch Ar-lein Blaenau Gwent wedi bod mor llwyddiannus mewn cyfnod mor fyr. Mae’n rhaid i bawb yng Nghymru gael mynediad at y Rhyngrwyd i gyfathrebu, i gael
cyfleoedd dysgu ac i sicrhau eu bod yn cael yr un mynediad at swyddi a chyngor ynghylch arbed arian â’r rheiny a chanddynt fynediad at y Rhyngrwyd yn eu cartref eu hunain. Llyfrgelloedd, a’r awdurdodau lleol sy’n eu cynnal, yw asgwrn cefn hanfodol ein gwaith”.

Mae adborth gan gwsmeriaid sy’n defnyddio’r cyfleusterau’n enghreifftio’r ystod o anghenion am gymorth gyda TGCh y gellir eu diwallu â phrosiectau megis Dewch Ar-lein Blaenau Gwent. 

Mae Sian yn gwsmer yn Llyfrgell Blaenau:

“Rwyf wedi bod yn dod i’r llyfrgell bob wythnos ers mis Awst gyda’r prosiect ‘Dewch Ar-lein Blaenau Gwent’. Nid oeddwn erioed wedi defnyddio cyfrifiadur o’r blaen ac roeddwn yn teimlo fel pe bawn i’n cael fy ngadael ar ôl. Yn awr gallaf ddefnyddio e-bost, siopa ar-lein ac rwyf wedi arbed arian wrth  brynu fy yswiriant car. Rwy’n dechrau meddwl am ddychwelyd i’r gwaith yn fuan, ac rwy’n teimlo’n hyderus gan fod gennyf bellach y sgiliau i ymgeisio am swyddi ar-lein”.

Mae Lindsay, cwsmer yn Llyfrgell Glyn Ebwy, yn sefydlu ei busnes ei hun:

“Rwyf wedi cael cymorth gwych gan Gethin gyda’r prosiect Dewch Ar-lein Blaenau Gwent. Mae fy musnes bellach ar e-Bay ac yn awr rwy’n gallu ei hyrwyddo ar Facebook – mae’n ffynnu go iawn! Mae wedi bod yn wych gallu galw heibio’r llyfrgell pan fo’n gyfleus i mi”

Mae Julie Hales yn Uwch Gynorthwyydd Llyfrgell yn Llyfrgell Glyn Ebwy:

“Mae’r prosiect ‘Dewch Ar-lein Blaenau Gwent’ wedi ein helpu gryn dipyn i leihau ein rhestr aros ar gyfer sesiynau yn y llyfrgell. Mae Gethin yn darparu’r sesiynau ‘Dydd Gwener Digidol’ yn llyfrgell Glyn Ebwy bob wythnos ac mae’r adborth yr ydym wedi’i dderbyn gan gwsmeriaid wedi bod yn ardderchog. Mae’r prosiect yn gaffaeliad mawr i’r gwasanaeth llyfrgell – mae wedi denu defnyddwyr newydd a mwy o aelodau i’r llyfrgell. Mae’n apelio at ein cwsmeriaid gan fod y sesiynau’n cael eu teilwra fel eu bod yn gweddu i’r hyn y mae’r cyfranogwyr yn dymuno’i ddysgu, heb yr angen i fynychu gwersi ffurfiol”.

Mae mwy o wybodaeth am Dewch Ar-lein Blaenau Gwent ar gael ar  www.getblaenaugwentonline.org.uk neu drwy ffonio Mark Robbins, Cydlynydd Cynhwysiant Digidol ar 01485 355457.

Mae mwy o wybodaeth am Cymunedau 2.0 ar gael yn www.communities2point0.org neu drwy ffonio 0845 474 8282