How Thurrock council introduced voluntary organisations to the Internet

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John Mayhew explains how the local council provided training for local voluntary organisations, and helped form an Internet group fopr the Thurrock Council for Voluntary Service . He also reflects on developments in the field, and how the Government's IT for All initiative can help.

The training project


In November 1995 Thurrock Council for Voluntary Service approached Thurrock Council and asked them to support a pilot project with the purpose of "educating" the Thurrock voluntary sector on the relevance of information technology, its application, and advantages of computer communication using the Internet and electronic mail.

Thurrock Council set up a project team comprising three Council officers and the CVS set up a similar group comprising two staff members and one management committee member. The initiative gained management committee agreement December 1995, and Thurrock Council agreed to install the necessary hardware for Internet and E-mail useage at the Thurrock CVS free of charge initially to the end of the financial year (31st March 1996).

This was set up using the Thurrock Council's server securely partitioned from them. The Council arranged training for a core group of interested members with the aim of enabling them to"cascade" their training to other interested Thurrock CVS members. A total of 26 people attended 13 training sessions - duration 2 hours in pairs by 31st March 1996.

Much of this training was spent "finding our way round". Here are some examples of the pieces of work achieved and information accessed: Agreements were drawn up for member organisations having received this induction training to book time on the Internet.

Thurrock CVS Internet Group

A Thurrock CVS Internet Group, meeting the last Thursday in the month, has now been agreed as a sub-group of the TCVS management committee.

The aim of the group is to share information, learn from each oth er and explore "new territory". Actual use of the Internet was not an issue, as it was seen that it was early days for IT for the voluntary sector. Some groups do not have computers. If "hands on" opportunity were provided for those persons/groups interested in the Internet the experience and awareness of the benefits might lead to the purchase of their own capability or continued use of the facility at Thurrock CVS.

The way forward

The Internet group recommended to Thurrock CVS management committee the development of a Thurrock CVS Home Page. This was agreed.

Thurrock Council agreed that TCVS could have web page space, free of charge, to construct this. Member groups were circulated and asked to provide the main aim, contact address, telephone and fax number, a summary of services provided together with a logo. Fourteen replies were received and a demonstration of the TCVS Home Page, to which TCVS member groups have been invited, was arranged for the end of November meeting.

Subject to availability Thurrock Council agreed in principle that it might offer, to the voluntary sector, a restricted number of places on training courses for Thurrock Council staff. This might also involve training on computer "housekeeping", the basics of computer upkeep.

Further investigation and development for Womens' Groups initiatives.

The topic of "Chat" links using IRC (the Internet Relay Chat programme) has been mentioned. This would be suitable for an umbrella style organisation that has groups/centres with an Internet capability. It is possible to hold meetings (telephone conference style - IRC messages are logged and can be printed out) without moving from the office. Member groups could participate on a "Who's in the Room basis" as forums of interest on issues; members could make contributions to the Main newsletter. Presently this could be possible on the NACVS network but Server availability (there is one in both the UK and Germany) would need to be explored. Thurrock CVS could establish a chat link, when Thurrock CVS members are able, through the National CVS network.

Thurrock Council will become a Unitary authority from April 1998. It is evident from the recent conference held with the voluntary sector (some 150 delegates attended) and the recent two day weekend consultation session with the public that the Council is wishing to develop strong and active links with the local community The web site is seen as all embracing made up of various "lobbies" not belonging to any one in particular, for example, Council, Business, Voluntary Sector, Health and Life Styles, Environment, Heritage, but as a representation of the Community that makes up Thurrock.

IT development in the community


Several initiatives are working together, revolving around Information Technology and its "explosive" developments as more and more interests realise the potential of this medium, particularly the use of computers enabling networking for communication and information purposes.

Speed of contact aiding greater efficiency is a desirable aim, but experience proves that access delays due to demand (admittedly at peak useage times) are considerable. Demand, an increase of 40% last year, appears to be outstripping the capability of service operators to provide the necessary hardware. This does need to be addressed.

However, many users experience problems because their hardware, whilst functionable, does not altogether meet the requirements (the internal memory aspect of the computer, the speed of the connecting modem in use for example) to enable a reasonable access speed. The transmission of pictures and graphics can be slow under these conditions often causing user frustration, loss of confidence, and because of "slow delivery" higher "telephone account" bills, influencing users to switch off and cease to use the medium.

There are those who do not have computers. The government initiative, n leaflet form might, like many local newspapers, be unread and cast aside by people who might acknowledge the potential of IT, but will never be able to afford it and develop their interest. There are those, although not possessing a computer, who do express an interest but need the opportunity to explore and develop their interest. Also there are those who do possess a computer but require that "extra" incentive to make the step and "come on line". The proposed leaflet has a massive function to perform in covering a wide spectrum, inexperienced through to very experienced
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This initiative is necessary. Although funding from central government sources would be welcome to support the familiarising aspect, it is more than likely, because restraint is common practice these days, that further development will become a local issue reliant upon the topic being accepted as a local issue. If this occurs and it becomes an agenda item, the necessary means can be found to provide resources, financial and human

The television viewer and radio listener is a passive non-participative party in the process. Even with the advent of cabling, improving the quantity of channel provision, and digital broadcasting developments leading towards an interactive two way approach could prove limiting and exclusive. An interactive capability exists on the Internet, comments, chat, joining forums of interest and so on, but there is the deluge aspect of receiving and handling information and e-mail correspondence through computer links which develop a technical behaviour (operating in front of a computer monitor) as distinct from social behaviour (meeting people face to face). .

John Mayhew
November 1996