Community computer suite

John Healey, MP for Wentworth and Dearne, visited the communnity hub, based at Thurnscoe Library, to officially unveil the new suite, which includes eight new computers.

These new resources were obtained through funds donated by the GMB Trade Union Learning Project, to help Dearne Electronic Community Village to ‘contniye to deliver lifelong learning opportunities to the local community.’

Mr Healey was joined at the event by Steve Houghton, leader of Barnsley Council, plus local councillors Pauline Phillips and Annette Gollick and representatives for GMB and Dearne Valley College.

Mr Healey said: “The Dearne Electronic Community Village does brilliant work in providing the people of Thurnscoe with access to education and training.

“The staff do a great job and I know that they will make the most of these new resources to keep supporting local people.

“I would like to thank the GMB Trade Union Learning Project for this vital funding, which will be put good use. And I will continue to give the centre any help and support that it needs from me as the local MP.”

A spokesman for the Dearne Electronic Community Village said: “This organisation is, in every sense of the word, ‘community owned and managed and its value to the community is reflected by it being part of the Barnsley Dearne Community Partnership ‘Community Action Plan.’

“From extremely humble beginnings the organisation has developed into an ECDL Training and Testing Centre, an OCR Provider and a Cisco Networking Academy.

“Our aim is to promote education and learning, and provide ICT and other learning resources to the public.

“ The overall aim is to contribute towards the regeneration of our deprived community, offering dedicated teaching facilities, and the relevant equipment.”