A new public access computer terminal has been installed at a Kempston community hub to help residents access essential online services.
The touchscreen device has been donated by IT firm Get-IT-Right to Project 229 on Bedford Road, where it is now available for free use inside the Hub Club Café.
Access to services
The terminal allows visitors to access a range of services, including council and police websites, NHS support, foodbank information and debt advice.
It has been set up with one-touch access to commonly used services and supports multiple languages.
Wayne Humberstone, chief executive of Get-IT-Right, said the aim was to make services easier to reach.
“Project 229 already does incredible work supporting people in Kempston,” he said.
“This terminal gives their visitors another way to access essential services, whether that’s applying for benefits, reporting a crime, or simply getting online.”
Tackling digital exclusion
The installation is intended to help address digital exclusion, which can prevent people from accessing services or seeking support.
Project 229 provides a range of community services, including crisis support, therapeutic services and adult learning, as well as drop-in sessions to help people build confidence using technology.
Beccy Campbell-Grieve from Project 229 said many visitors face barriers to getting online.
“Many of the people who come to Project 229 are facing real challenges, isolation, financial hardship, and limited access to the digital world that so many of us take for granted,” she said.
“This terminal means they can access vital services in a safe, welcoming space with support close by if they need it.”
Local partnership
The donation reflects an ongoing relationship between the organisation and Get-IT-Right, whose operations director Phil Eaton is also a trustee of Project 229.
He said the terminal would provide a simple way for people to get online.
“Not everyone has a laptop or a smartphone, and not everyone knows where to start,” he said.
“Having an Access-IT terminal here means anyone can walk in, sit down, and access the services that matter to them, no login, no cost, no fuss.”
The system is managed remotely, allowing updates without on-site maintenance.
