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Mike
Weatherley supports the campaign to open a community Internet cafe in
Portslade
Below
is a letter by Theo Brake-Child that has been delivered to all local
business in Portslade with Mike Weatherley's endorsement... Dear Sir / Madam Please allow me to introduce myself. I stood as a Conservative Councillor in the last Local Election, and although I was not Elected, I have been asked by residents in this Ward to try and help to relieve some of the frustration and boredom a lot of the local Teenagers have in this area. Whilst I was canvassing I came up with an idea to open a Community Based Internet Café, for the whole of Portslade, which we would turn into a Charity, as well as a sustainable business. The whole intention of turning it into a Charity run Business, is so we can plough all profits straight back into the Café. I would also like to make it a local focal point for Schoolchildren leaving School, seeking Employment and Adults wishing to return to the Workplace, the opportunity to come along to drop in sessions to liase with a Working Links Key-worker. I really feel that Portslade, as a Community, would more than benefit from this, and it would also allow the local Teenagers to channel their energy into something more worthwhile and positive than destroying Property. We also have two Special Schools in this area, Downs Park and Hillside who I feel would also benefit from this venture. It will also have a Separate Games area. I have received an excellent offer from Virgin Media, with regard to Internet Access, and have secured a good deal for 12 new build computer systems from a Local Computer Company. So I have been busy, trying to secure things that are an Integral part of the machine, that will end up driving this forward. But, the biggest hurdle we have to jump is the financial hurdle; this is why I am writing to you. I am asking if you’re company would be willing to make a Donation toward this idea, and help us to go further forward with this much needed venture. I am only asking as we need to get things moving very quickly as I am worried we will lose the Outlet in Graham Avenue, unless we can generate enough funds to make it ours. We will be making an application to the Charity
Commission, to turn this venture into a Charity run Business, but at the
present time. I have been in touch with the Property Management Company,
Parsons Son and Basley, and have gained an offer of a rent reduction for
the property, which I am very pleased with. I am also trying to gain funds
through The National lottery, Awards for All, and Other Government Run
Bodies. The only thing slowing all this process down is the Application
Time; some can take weeks, others Months. I am being as patient as I can,
but I really feel we need to move in a quicker direction to try and gain
funds. I hope you will consider this plea for help, and I thank you not
only for your time, but also for reading this letter. We are looking for funding for: 8 Computer Systems, possibly 10, dependant upon the on the Set up we use. At a cost of £179.00 Per Computer £1,790.00 for 10 systems. Headphones for people, who wish to Download Music,
play Music or Copy to Disc. I will be very vigilant with regard to
Copyright Control. At a cost of £8.00
per pair. A total cost of £80.00 based upon 10 systems. Web Cams with microphones for active game playing
within role-playing games that will be linked to each terminal for playing
against each other. We will offer this free of charge. At a cost of £20.00
per unit. A total cost of £200.00
based upon 10 systems. A Wireless System, so other Games Players can
Challenge their Friends, whilst using the Community Café, whilst his
friend is at Home on a Laptop This will be Offered at a Small Charge. At a
cost of £150.00. Laser Printer, Network Ready, so we can offer
printing services, at a small charge. At
a cost of £250.00. A Fax Machine, so we can offer this service at a
small charge per sheet. At a cost
of £100.00. All in one Printer with CD printing so we can also
stock and sell Discs, printer paper and other associated items.
At a cost of £90.00 We will sell Soft Drinks, Tea, Coffee, and snacks. We
will be looking into making more hot snacks available in the future.At a
Various Cost from 40p - £5.00 Workstations and Shelving will be constructed by a
Friend and will confirm to Current Legislation for Height and Comfort.At
an Estimated Cost of £45.00 Per Workstation. Screen Dividers to allow some privacy for users.At a
cost of £80.00 per divider. Total Cost £800.00. Computer Chairs that are designed with Health and Safety in mind, so they can be used correctly and Comfortably. At a Cost of £8.99 Per Chair at Argos. A total cost of £89.90 We will need refrigeration units for Sandwiches and
storing of cold drinks. I have sourced a Second-Hand company over the
Internet, who will supply, deliver and install at a cost of £375.00 - £490.00
depending upon which ones we get. Soft Furnishings for the Homework and Study Area,
will be sourced from both Emmaus and Martlets Hospice Furniture Warehouse
located on the Old Shoreham Road, Hove. Software packages for the Children from Downs Park
and Hillside Special Schools, so that can carry on with their Schoolwork
and also help with Homework and School Projects. The Introduction of a Study Area and Homework Suite, which will be situated at the back of the premises in Graham Avenue Portslade, where the Key-Workers can also speak with the Teenagers and internet café users, over personal issues and gain advice on seeking work, and work placements. This area will also be used for the local Adults for advice on Benefits, Housing Issues, and again for returning to the Workplace. We shall be looking into the purchase of Software that is currently in use at Portslade Community College, Mile Oak Junior and Infants School and St. Nicholas Junior School, as well as Downs Park (where I have a Son in attendance). And Hillside. As I mentioned before, there will also be a separate games area, where there will be a Playstation games console and an X-Box360, which can be used at a very modest fee. These will also have connection to the Internet to enhance the game playing experience. We are hoping to be able to raise around £25,000, to cover everything we need. This should also see us supporting the Café for over 12 months, which will allow us time to get the grants organised and to apply for Charity status thus safeguarding the future of the Café. I know we as a Community can make this work, and I hope you will support this venture. North Portslade has since I joined the Community in 1979, been left out for so long, and the Community as a whole has changed so much. This I hope will help to change Portslade for the better and help bring back some of the Spirit Portslade has lost over the years. Please help us make this Happen. Any Building works that need to be undertaken will be
dealt with by my Brother-in-Laws, who are all Qualified Tradespersons, one
is a Plasterer one is a Stone Mason and Bricklayer, and the Third is
involved in Loft Conversion. All necessary Decorating will be undertaken
by myself, I will also be contacting Microsoft for Donations of Computer
Programs, as I know this is something they do. “Please Help us by supporting this
Project, Portslade as a Community, has been left out for such a long time,
and I feel this will help to rebuild Portslade and the Community.”
I look forward to hearing from you and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for reading this letter. Yours Faithfully Theo Brake-Child
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