School takes net to people

VILLAGERS in Suffolk will soon have the chance to surf through cyber space – whether they know how to or not.

But never fear, if the new age of technology is all too much, pupils from Woodbridge School will be on hand to show you exactly how it is done.

The Burkitt Road school has just been given £25,000 as part of BT's Lifelong Learning Award after fighting off 140 other applicants, nation wide for the money.

As an added bonus the school is the only one in the country to win, as the competition is open to universities, colleges, libraries and any community partners they want to involve.

In partnership with Suffolk Coastal District Council the school designed a project to give 25 villages in the district their own computers.

Richard Love, campaign director for Woodbridge School said that the project was decided on because computers for rural areas were so important.

He said: "It is incredibly important to have computers out there.

"At the moment villages are losing post offices, pubs, public transport and many farmers are finding themselves disenfranchised.

"People have actually said that their sons and daughters know all about computers and how to use them but they have no idea."

Villages have to apply for the 25 computers that are on offer and once they have been selected, pupils from Woodbridge School will be around to teach people how to use them as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Mr Love said: "Woodbridge has been involved in the community for in excess of 400 years.

"We raised around £35,000 for charities last year and we are always doing various bits and pieces for the community.

"This is a natural progression from that."

Stephen Cole, headmaster of Woodbridge School, said: "We are extremely proud to have been selected from so many applicants but are more pleased for the villages of Suffolk Coastal – they will be the real winners.

"The benefit that public access through the IT link will bring is indeterminate."