Islington Council's Durham Road Online Centre is moving to Islington Arts & Media School in January 2006.<br><br>The centre, a partnership with the school will include a state of the art suite of 15 personal computers with broadband connectivity – allowing fast access to the Internet - with a separate study area; and will offer a wide range of courses and opportunities for both parents and local people. These will include computer and technology courses, family learning programmes, English language, basic skills and job search services.<br><br>Councillor Meral Ece, executive member for health and social care for adults said: "We have one of the largest networks of online centres in the country used by over 3000 people. By moving one of the centres to Islington Arts and Media school more and more people - young and old and in particular Islington's diverse communities will benefit. As a council, we are committed to ensuring that all people can benefit from these services in order to access education and training opportunities and reach their full potential."<br><br>Head teacher Richard Ewen welcomed the opportunity to strengthen the school’s links to the community. “IAMS provides an excellent centre of learning for school students, and this new initiative provides a great opportunity for everybody to benefit from the improved library and learning facilities.” <br><br>Islington Online is the council's neighbourhood learning network of 20 neighbourhood learning centres and a mobile computer bus. It is one of the biggest in the country and the centers are in a range of locations including Arsenal, the council's libraries, schools housing estates and community centres. The centres also offer a range of activities such as homework clubs, after school activities, health programmes and community activities. The centres also support a range of regeneration projects such as Sure Start, Family Learning and Out of School Hours learning as well as using the mobile computer project to support Islington Council's Summer University.<br><br>Each centre has a full time neighbourhood learning centre coordinator and between one and two tutors on hand offering help and advice. The centres are linked via one network giving people the opportunity to communicate with other centres and work from any of the locations.<br><br>Building work will take place during the summer break, and the new centre will be situated on the ground floor of the school with its own separate entrance. <br><br>Over 3000 are now enrolled at one of the 20 centres and between January and April 2005 980 new learners signed up, many of whom have not used a computer before.<br><br>Ends<br><br>Notes to editors<br><br>Islington's 20 Neighbourhood Learning Centres can be found at:<br>· Central Library, Holloway Road, N7 - First Steps<br>· Goswell Road - ECI - The Goswell Centre<br>· City and Islington College (Local) Junction Road<br>· City and Islington College (Andover Centre) Andover Estate<br>· The Crouch Hill Community Centre<br>· Hilldrop ICT Centre - Hilldrop Neighbourhood Learning Centre<br>· HNG Multi Media - Fire station<br>· CSV Multi Media Clubhouse<br>· Elfrida Rathbone Society<br>· Market Estate (Hyde Housing Association) - Market Online<br>· Mayville Community Centre - Mayville Neighbourhood Learning Centre<br>· Islington Online Mobile Computer Bus<br>· Film and Video Workshop @Hungerford School<br>· Arsenal Red Zone - Arsenal Football Club<br>· Durham Road Lifelong Learning Centre<br> Elizabeth House Lifelong Learning Centre<br> Hanley Crouch Lifelong Learning Centre<br>· Thornhill Neighbourhood Project - Thornhill Neighbourhood<br>Learning Centre<br>· Islington African Project - Elthorne Learning Centre Project<br>· Platform 1 @ EGA School
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009