By Steven Hastings
Thereʼs a ʻsecretʼ room at the end of the gym hall in Dumbartonʼs Concord community centre, when the door opens you are taken into a world of innovation, technology and design.
This is Bellsmyre Digital Community and Project Manager, Kathleen Smith, welcomed us in.
Bellsmyre Digital is a wonderful place bringing the community together in a variety of ways; Kathleen told me how it all began.
In 2001 a government funded project, Community Scotland, was set up to help with digital and social inclusion in Bellsmyre.
As part of this initiative every resident in Bellsmyre got a PC and free training, this lasted for three years.
Then some people involved at the time got together to keep the project going under different funding.
A committee was set up which included Brian McCluskey and Robert Aitken.
They had five staff members and clubs were set up offering training in IT skills, photography, creating and printing greetings cards and calendars online, making and printing address labels.
Vision of Growth
Kathleen added: “A few years ago, I was asked to come along to a board meeting.
“And at the meeting I agreed to become Committee Secretary on a ʻtemporaryʼ basis.”
With her background in teaching, Kathleen could see there was a lot more that could be done.
She said: “I took on a volunteer job, which grew into a project manager role. Within about 18 months we had something on every morning, every afternoon and Saturday morning.
“BDC was growing very, quickly. More and more people were coming to our clubs and classes.”
Kathleen said: “I love what we do, and I love the people around us.”
BDC was originally in the wooden huts on Whiteford Crescent in Bellsmyre.
When social and affordable housing was being built on the land they hoped to get a new building there as part of developers helping the community, but unfortunately this didnʼt happen.
Instead, the Council found them new premises in the Concord Centre.
They worked in partnership with the Council to get the small space looking as good as it does now.
Three Locations
Kathleen explained: “Currently we have three operational premises – the Concord, our STEM and 3D Printing workshop in Castlehill. We also have our unit in Merkins Avenue in Bellsmyre as we’re still keen to maintain a presence in Bellsmyre, because that’s in our name.”
Their internet is top of the range as they need it to run smoothly, especially as they work very closely with organisations who are delivering SQA exams, for example.
Keeping people connected digitally and socially is a big part of Bellsmyre Digital Community.
If you need some advice about your laptop, tablet or phone, their IT technician will help you cost free. If you need repairs, that will only cost you £10 (plus the cost of parts, if needed).
Volunteers are very important in Bellsmyre Digital Community.
Kathleen explained: “Without our volunteers- we have over 40 volunteers – we wouldnʼt be able to do what we do.
“Our volunteers are a very talented bunch of people who help deliver many of the opportunities available in the organisation, sharing their skills and expertise.”
Activities on Offer
Bellsmyre Digital offers a range of activities.
There are groups for anyone from eight to 100.
The gamers start at eight-years-old and a few years ago a gentleman called Jack Lennie who was in the Astronomy Club celebrated his 100th birthday with them.
They had a wee party for him which included non-alcoholic champagne.
Kathleen laughed: “We have many fond memories of Jack. To my knowledge, he had never had a drink in his life.
We gave him two wee glasses of non-alcoholic champagne.
Of course, he had never heard of such a thing.
He said, ʻThatʼs quite enough, I’m more than a little bit intoxicated, thank you very much.”
The Astronomy Club meets twice a month on Friday evenings. Beginners are very welcome.
There are two gaming clubs on a Saturday.
Kathleen said: “The kids can play either individually or together – it’s a bit of both.”
Safe Spaces For All
As well as socialising, having fun and learning, online safety is very important in Bellsmyre Digital.
Kathleen explained: “One of our amazing gaming leaders created a bespoke in-house server on the game Minecraft, to make it a safe space for the children to play the game.”
Bellsmyre Digital also works alongside Working 4 U for employability opportunities, including certificated SQA courses.
There are drop-in internet cafes in the Concord and in Bellsmyre for any age group to use the internet for free. Hot drinks and biscuits are also provided.
There is a computer club on a Thursday afternoon, where you can pop in with any problems or just questions you have with using your digital devices.
Kathleen gave some examples – how to video call family and friends for free, how to do internet searches, make a word document, organise photos into albums, download apps.
Lots of different things. “People tend to come back for the social aspect, as well – for a blether and a cuppa.”
A couple of years ago BDC started making rockets with the children as part of STEAM which, Kathleen explained, stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics.
The cones and other essential parts for the rockets are printed on their 3D printers.
Sometimes the rockets crash land as they hit the ground, but thatʼs ok, because the 3D printers come to the rescue and can print more parts.
Partnership Working With Wool
A knitting group, which meets in Bellsmyre on a Tuesday, knits beanies for the homeless and other groups in local and surrounding areas that need them.
They knitted over 400 beanie hats this year, in partnership with ʻThreadsʼ.
Linda from local knitting and craft shop ʻThreadsʼ supplies wool to the group at low prices and they give her knitting patterns she can give her customers for free.
They bring their knitted beanies back to the shop and they are then delivered to Kathleen for distribution in the community.
Kathleen added: “Beginners are very welcome to the knitting club. If you donʼt knit but would like to give it a go, just pop along and youʼll be knitting in no time.”
Bellsmyre Digital hosts a variety of activities with learning and fun for all ages in a safe space and helps the wider community.
Long may it continue!
If you want to find out more about Bellsmyre Digitalʼs groups:
IT advice and repairs:
mm******@*****il.com
07745435316
Clubs and classes:
ks******@*****il.com
07561480808
Computer suite hire:
ks******@*****il.com
07561480808
Latest news and events: Facebook page Bellsmyre Digital Community
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