Log on to free computers!

PARENTS are being encouraged to apply for free computers and internet access for their children.

Oldham and Suffolk councils are pilot authorities for the Home Access scheme, which launches on February 2.

The Government-funded scheme aims to provide computers and broadband access to all families so that children aged five to 19 have an equal opportunity to learn at home.

Low income families who are eligible will be given a grant to buy equipment from accredited supplier as well as a year of free broadband. Eligible families include those whose children get free school meals, on some benefits and those earning less than £15,575 a year.

Families with more than one child will be able to apply for a computer for each sibling.

An e-safety week will run from February 7 in Oldham teaching parents how to use a computer and the internet safely.

The scheme is targeting over 3,200 primary school children and 5,733 secondary school children in Oldham.

The £5million Oldham pilot is part of the Government’s £300million scheme which will be rolled out nationally towards the end of the year.

One resident at the East Oldham Area Committee raised concerns about low-earning working families.

She said: "If someone is working part-time, that person is going to get penalised for it and they won’t be able to get their children a computer themselves.

"Another family may be claiming benefits, not bothering to work and they’ll get a computer."

Steve Goodman, head of ICT at Oldham Council, said the £15,575 threshold was not a final amount, and the grant value had not been decided.

Parents can start applying for grants from February 2 and for more information call 0161-770 7770.

Booze ban zone to be extended

WATERHEAD Park and Stoneleigh Park could soon be part of an alcohol exclusion zone.

Police and councillors are looking at establishing the zone across parts of Waterhead and Derker to tackle anti-social behaviour and underage drinking hot-spots. The zone would stretch north from the border of Greenacres Cemetery to Moorside, and across from the train tracks at Lower Moor to Waterworks Road by Waterhead water treatment plant.