The Inspire Foundation is looking for a youth service based in Brisbane or the Gold Coast to become the next Beanbag centre. As a Beanbag centre you would receive top-of-the-line computers, broadband internet, and basic and specialised technology training for staff an young people.
Please see the background information below, and attached application form for more details. Applications close 27th July.
Cheers,
Megan
THE PROJECT
There are currently 19 Beanbag Centres established in urban locations throughout Australia. The Inspire Foundation is now seeking applications to establish another Beanbag Centre in the Brisbane or Gold Coast area. One Bisbane or Gold Coast youth agency will be selected to take part in the project, which will be rolled out in August 2005. The project will establish free Internet access facilities and provide Internet training to young people and agency staff.
The Inspire Foundation will also work with the youth agency to promote awareness of the services they provide, and the achievements of young people in their community. These achievements will be highlighted on a dedicated website, the aim of which is to provide a positive profile of young people (www.beanbag.net.au).
The project aims to ensure that young Australians experiencing socio-economic disadvantage in urban areas have easy and free access to the Internet and associated technologies. Each Beanbag Centre will serve as an example of how the Internet can be used to deliver social benefits to the community.
INSPIRE FOUNDATION BACKGROUND
The Inspire Foundation is an Internet-based foundation that inspires young people to help themselves, get involved and get online. This is done through a series of projects that help young people get through tough times, provide opportunities for young people to volunteer and get involved in their communities, and ensure access to the net for young people who have never had access before.
Under the three mutually reinforcing themes of Help Yourself, Get Involved and Get Online, and in partnership with business, government and community organisations, Inspire believes its projects demonstrate the unprecedented opportunities offered by the Internet to make a real and practical difference in the lives of young people. The Inspire Foundation recently won an Australian Information Industry Association ‘iAward’ for the Beanbag Centre Project for Social Corporate Responsibility.
Most important, however, is the direct and positive impact the work of the Inspire Foundation has had on the lives of many young people. (www.inspire.org.au)
PROJECT DETAILS
The project involves five key components:
- Establishment of a Beanbag Centre in a suitable location on the agency’s premises. The centre will include:
- Two Internet-ready computers, loaded with the latest Microsoft software
- One multi media/video editing computer with software
- A laser printer and scanner
- Free Internet connection for a period of 6 months
- Technical support for a period of 6 months
- Development of a dedicated website – In partnership with the youth agency, the Inspire Foundation will develop a dedicated website that will provide a positive profile of the agency and young people living in their community. (www.beanbag.net.au)
- Internet, Computer and Film Training – The Inspire Foundation will work with the youth agency to provide tailored training for staff and young people. This will include training in film production and editing for the KickArse film festival.
- Official Launch – The Inspire Foundation will launch each of the Beanbag Centres in partnership with the youth agency. The purpose of the launch is to raise awareness of the agency, its involvement in the project, and also to provide a positive profile of young people in the community.
- The Beanbag Centres Learning Network –The learning network enables the 20 Beanbag Centres to share knowledge and build on the experiences of others for the benefit of young people. The Inspire Foundation has developed a number of tools to support the Learning Network, which includes an online newsletter and an annual conference. It also gives Inspire the ability to run network-wide special programs, such as the KickArse Film Festival.
TIMING
To successfully manage a national project of this scope it is necessary to work to a strict timeline.
The successful youth agency will be notified by early August 2005, and consultation with the agency and installation of the Beanbag Centre will commence mid August 2005. The equipment will be installed in September 2005 and the centre will be completed and launched by the end of September 2005.
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP
A partnership approach between the youth agency and the Inspire Foundation on the delivery of all aspects of the project will be critical to the success of the project.
Staff time will be needed to ensure the success of the project. Some of the areas where youth agency staff will be needed include:
- Providing a contact point for the installation and maintenance of the technical equipment;
- Providing ongoing supervision of the computers and managing how the computers will be used;
- Working with Inspire Foundation staff to source young people to undertake training;
- Having staff attend the training course and support young people who have undertaken training;
- Having one or two staff attend the Beanbag Staff Workshop in March 2006 (minimum costs);
- Working with the Inspire Foundation to source content for the dedicated website as well as ongoing updates;
- Working with the Inspire Foundation to launch the Beanbag Centre and the website; and
- Working with young people to ensure they have an entry in the KickArse Film Festival due October 2006
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
One of the criteria for selection is that the agency has adequate security for the Beanbag Centre facilities and preferably a dedicated secure room or space, which can be screened off for the computers to be housed. Unfortunately the Inspire Foundation is unable to provide funding for any physical changes to the building needed to create an appropriate and secure space.
Inspire will cover the incremental cost of adding the equipment to the agency’s insurance policy for the first 12 months from installation, however, the agency will be required to meet the ongoing costs and any other insurance policy amendments that are incurred as a result of having the Beanbag Centre facilities.
While the Inspire Foundation will cover the majority of installation, operation and Internet access costs for the first 6 months, the agency will be required to meet all ongoing costs of the Beanbag Centre beyond this period. Ongoing costs are estimated at $1,200 per year.
Also to be considered is the impact the Beanbag centre may have on your agency and existing staffing resources.
RECOGNITION OF CORPORATE SUPPORT
The Inspire Foundation would not have been able to deliver this project without the support of its corporate partners – the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation, Microsoft Unlimited Potential program, Hewlett-Packard, and other individual donors. At the launch and on the Beanbag web site the logos of these corporate foundations will be placed. It is important that successful agency understands our commitment to the corporate partners.
## SELECTION ##
SELECTION CRITERIA
Selection of the Brisbane or Gold Coast youth agency will be based on the following criteria:
- The agency is based in the Brisbane or Gold Coast area, and its clientele is predominantly aged under 25;
- The agency is located within a community with limited access to the Internet and/or
- The agency has the ability to care for the Beanbag Centre and keep equipment secure;
- The agency is able to meet the ongoing costs of the Beanbag Centre;
- The agency can show the Beanbag Centre will be readily accessible to, and well used by young people;
- The Beanbag Centre and the dedicated website have a specific purpose within the agency and will add value to existing programs, or will be used in the development of a new project aimed at furthering the educational needs of young people served by the agency.
SELECTION PROCESS
Applications will be assessed by a selection panel consisting of a community representative, a representative from a Beanbag Centre, and a representative from the Inspire Foundation
Applications are confidential and will be used solely for selection purposes.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Jonathan Nicholas
Inspire Foundation
Phone: (02) 9818 3055
Email: jono@inspire.org.au
<<QLD Bris and Gold Coast 05 - Application form.doc>>
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Megan van der Ley
Program Coordinator
Beanbag Program
Inspire Foundation
ph: 02 9818 3055
fx: 02 9818 3855
www.beanbag.net.au
www.reachout.com.au
www.inspire.org.au
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Opportunity for QL
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