Having lost his job, Simon was facing a number of challenges at the start of the year - including the birth of a new baby. But enrolling for a number of online writing courses has given him a new career direction - and a complete new lease of life.  | | Simon Carreck |
"I'm using their Internet connection to learn about writing in general - and freelancing in particular. If it's right for me, I'll be talking to one of eTidworth's Business Link advisors" he said. "And if it's not right, I'll be taking advantage of eTidworth's career guidance service, taking one of their online isometric tests to see what's more suitable for me and brushing up on my interview skills at one of their workshops." Tidworth is the first community in Wiltshire to take advantage of the fantastic offers available through the eWiltshire project. The advice centre in Pennings Road was opened at the launch of the eTidworth campaign. It comes under the banner of eWiltshire's multi million pound initiative to get the county connected to high speed Internet. The project is also striving to help people realise just how much Broadband technology could help them do business, train or just keep in touch. FACT FILE | The Smartplace Partnership is the largest public-private sector partnership ever to be undertaken in Wiltshire and Swindon, with the aim of providing county-wide access to Broadband technology. The partners - Wiltshire County Council, Swindon Borough Council, North Wiltshire District Council, Kennet DC, Salisbury DC, Trowbridge Town Council, the South West of England Regional Development Agency, Business Link for Berkshire and Wiltshire, Learning and Skills Council Wiltshire and Swindon, Learndirect, BT and Bluewire Solutions - have a long term vision for the county in which communities will be fully connected to the Internet. For more information about the Partnership and eWiltshire and eSwindon please call the information line on: 0845 600 3331 or visit www.eWiltshire.com |
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Steve Lawton, eTidworth champion, is spearheading the drive to get his community onto the Broadband highway and is really excited by its success so far. "Since opening the centre we have attracted a base of regular clients who use the centre for job-search, training and information. For example we have a regular group of clients who access their local Czech newspapers via the Internet - this is the only way they are able to keep in touch with local issues," he said. "The Tidworth community has a large number of residents who are transient, military dependants. For most of the time they are single parents with no local family support, this in itself creates huge barriers for development and learning. This section of the community make up a large percentage of our new clientele." The centre offers information, advice and guidance on all aspects of employment and training. Now Tidworth's experience will help the eWiltshire campaign to develop projects elsewhere in the county. Tidworth's seven public access computers offer high speed Broadband internet connection for research. There is also an outreach point for businesses to access Business Link advisors through the eWiltshire initiative. And it's made Simon's year. "Thank you, eTidworth, not just for your help but, most importantly, for giving me hope in a situation others would call hopeless." he said. If you think eTidworth could help you then call Steve Lawton of the Tidworth Development Trust on 01980 842117 for more information. | 
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