Healthy Body Healthy Mind - The Unity launches it’s newly refurbished ICT suite and Sports Hall

PRESS RELEASE

Date: Wednesday 23rd July 2008

Healthy Body Healthy Mind - The Unity launches it’s newly refurbished ICT suite and Sports Hall

On 23 July, 2008 the Unity Youth & Community Centre will unveil its newly refurbished ICT Suite and Sports Hall at a launch event which will take place on 23 July at the Unity, 49 Dove Street, L8 0UT 12 pm – 4pm.

Working in partnership with local digital inclusion project EverybodyOnline, the Unity Youth and Community Centre secured over £10,000 to completely refurbish its ICT suite with the latest technology and an extensive range of leaning tools; and secured a further £46,000 from ERDF, via INplaces, a local project delivering facility management, and the Youth opportunity fund to renovate their sports hall and training gym. There will now be a massive launch event to officially open these facilities to the local community.

The event will have an overarching healthy living theme and will include a range of free activities to encourage local residents to access the new facilities. The activities, which are being delivered by the local Community Health Ambassador Team (CHATS) project, EverybodyOnline and the Unity will include: beat the goalie, healthy living web quests, a computer games making session, health MOT’s, Tai Chi and massage as well as a complimentary buffet. Additionally, the event will also be visited by the local fire brigade, the police and a whole host of other community bodies.

Unity Project Manager, Ricky Jones said, “To have IT facilities is essential in the world today and would never have been possible without Lucy Campbell. Our previous sports hall floor was a carpet type covering over a bitumen floor; it had been down for twenty odd years and had seen better days. The new floor makes our sports hall the best youth club, indoor football area in Liverpool. “

“We encourage our young people to play Futsal, which promotes development of technical skills in players. The whole environment was not only changed by the new cushioned floor but also by the fact that all the surfaces of the sports hall were painted - which is something we would have been unable to do ourselves without the help of Phil and Linda from In-Places.”

EverybodyOnline, a project delivered by the UK charity Citizens Online and supported by BT, helps local residents in Liverpool 8 to take advantage of the opportunities that digital technology and the internet has to offer.

Peter Connor, BT Regional Manager, said: “BT are pleased to support this fantastic project, access to ICT can iimprove people's lives - opening doors to education, jobs and entertainment. But many people are missing out because they don’t have the opportunity or necessary skills to use the technology. Through supporting initiatives such as this, we are working with partners to help people, of all ages and backgrounds, to gain ICT skills that they can then use these to improve their lives and access new opportunities

EverybodyOnline Project Officer, Lucy Campbell said: “Working in partnership with the Unity has really enabled our project to reach out to the young people of Liverpool 8. ICT proves to be such an integral part of the lives of the young people today, and I am delighted to be able to assist in enabling this group to access such facilities. I hope that many of its users find them selves able to reach new levels both academically and socially, as they develop some of their many skills and talents”

Following the event, it is hoped that the new facilities will open a whole world of opportunity for the local community. Continued partnership with EverybodyOnline will soon see the ICT suite delivering a number of new internet and digital technology initiatives including: a resource for home working, a jobs club, regular online shopping sessions, online communication sessions for the deaf community, and commuter games making sessions, to name but a few. As for the sports hall, it is certain to prove to be an invaluable asset to assist the local community towards leading a healthier life style.

For information about the launch event or EOL Liverpool, please contact Lucy Campbell on 07793742349/0151-703-2000/Lucy.Campbell@Citizensonline.org.uk