Digital Skills training comes to Tipperary
Boher to benefit from project
Great anticipation is evident in Rossmore BCP, Boher BCP and Drom BCP as the communities await the beginning of their Digital Skills training starting in October and November 2022. BCPs (Broadband Connection Points) funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development are working with Tipperary County Council and the local communities to deliver high speed broadband to specified Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) across the county and offer Digital Skills training to their respective communities.
OurKidsCode is the first of three Digital programmes that will be offered to all national schools in rural Tipperary. OurKidsCode is based in Trinity College Dublin and funded by Science Foundation Ireland aims to improve participants confidence in computing and technology with parents learning alongside their children by participating in these creative computing workshops for families of all shapes and sizes to be held at the three Tipperary BCPs. The three BCPs are community halls fit for purpose venues for the local primary school, community events and meetings, but the icing on the cake is each hall is part of a digital network of 21 community-based Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) in County Tipperary.
The success of these programmes will act as a catalyst for the Digital Transformation and improve digital literacy where participants will improve their skills to learn, work and navigate everyday life in our digital world. At the end of the programmes our national school kids and their families will have the ability to use devices, software and apps safely and with confidence.
Tina Mulhearne, Digital Officer Tipperary County Council, said: “It can be daunting to learn any new skill, knowing where to start is a barrier for many so we are delighted to be able to work with Trinity College Dublin to take away this barrier for our families in rural Tipperary through our BCP Digital Network.”
Louise Caldwell, Programme Manager, OurKidsCode, School of Computer Science and Statistics, Trinity College Dublin added: “The additional barrier for many are the required resources and I am delighted to work with Tina and Amanda on these fully funded pilot programmes by the Department of Rural Community and Development (DRCD). Tipperary is one of only three counties in Ireland delivering the pilot programmes”.
Amanda Grant, Digital Champion for the BCP Digital Network, says she is looking forward to delivering the programmes and can’t wait to get started, having experienced the benefits of the programme in Killurney BCP a few months ago.