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USERS of Camden's UK Online computer centres - community facilities where people without computers can get online - have told how much they treasure the service.

 

They have repeatedly urged the council to move away from plans to cut funding to some of the centres, which are dotted across the borough.

 

Philip Oman has been using the Shell Centre in Boundary Road, Swiss Cottage and says having an IT resource has changed his life, prompting him to become involved in a variety of community groups, including being a director of Camden's Credit Plus Union.

 

He said: “It has been a  tremendous benefit. Without UK Online this would to have happened. If the council says it has a possible of encouraging inter action between generations, why are they cutting off a main source? We are talking about £170,000. It is a paltry sum compared to what the Town Hall spend each year on fighting court cases. In a budget of the councils size, the targeting of the most vulnerable people is terrible.”

 

His views were backed by centre manager John Boyle. He said: “Many people face being disenfranchised by the fact so many council services are most easily available on line – yet not everyone had access to a computer or the skills needed to use them.” UK Online not only provide free internet access but IT lessons as well.

 

Catherine Burnett first attended a UK Online session in 2002 and has since become skilled enough to offer help to her peers. She has also set up her own website, exploring her passion for prehistoric sites in Britain, as well as completing a photoshop course. She was just one of around 1,500 people who have enrolled on a course in the past year alone.

 

She said: “I left school without GCSE's, and I am now 57 – there were no computers in schools when I was younger. This service has helped me learn about technology, become capable with computers. So much nowadays depends on being able to access websites and emails and without UK Online I simply would not be able to have access to as much information as I do. With companies and institutions putting more and more services on line, it is vital older people have access to computers and have helped using them. The amount of money needed to keep the service going is a drop in the ocean.”

 

The issue caused divisions at last week's council meeting as the Lib Dem and Conservative coalition avoided taking a straight vote on whether the funding should be restored.

 

Deputy Lib Dem leader Councillor Janet Grauberg said the blame lay at funding cuts handed down by the learning and Skills Council. It was its grant that had helped pay for the service, based in 16 community centres and 13 libraries. Currently there are 274 computers provided – a figure due to drop by a quarter because of the cuts. Five community centres – Chadswell in KIng's Cross, Highgate Newtown,  Ingestre Road, Millman Street and Queens Crescent - currently stand  to have their free internet access removed completely, unless the Town Hall can find another way of funding the services.  

 

She said: “You are in a difficult position when government funding stops. UK Online came through a capital grant in 2000 to 20003 and then received money from the Learning and Skills Council. Last year, in the middle of the year, the LSC funding was reduced.”

 

Cllr Grauberg added that this has led to similar cuts in council services – central government grants to youth services had also dried up and meant they too had faced cuts.

 

She said: “We would all prefer this was sustainable funding and the LSC would be able to manage the budget. We want to find the best way to support these services, and we want to extend on-line services in libraries where there is staff support. We have identified the centres that are most heavily used and we are trying to give as much support as possible.”

 

Milena Nuti, trustee of the Brunswick and Kings Cross Neighbourhood Association, said: “Community centres across the borough are untied against these cuts. They should be expanding the service not cutting it back., It is vital people have access so they can look for jobs and access council services.”

 

A Camden Council press officer said: “Camden was originally able to establish the UK online partnership thanks to a significant Government grant. When that funding ended, the Council took over the costs and has been funding the service ever since through a combination of its own monies and further funding from the Government through the Learning and Skills Council. While we understand what a valuable and appreciated service it is, now that the Government and LSC funding has reduced, it is impossible for the Council to manage the funding for the service itself. However, we are fully aware of how important this service is to many of our residents and we are currently reviewing how we can minimise the impact of its partial withdrawal."

 

She added: "Our Adult Community Learning Service receives an annual grant of around £1.2m from the LSC and we are considering how this grant is spent and how we can use it to best reach target groups in the community. While this review is being carried out, although there will be some reduction in access to the internet, we will be keeping in use our most used and cost effective centres. The Council will also continue funding the facilities for accessing the internet through the library service."

 

"We work hard to provide a vast range of services to residents but must balance funding with need when external Government funding streams are reduced. While we would like to be able to fund everything for everyone this is simply not possible and we will do what we can to ensure that similar services are provided and that residents are made aware of where they can access them.”