Selston Tin Hat Centre goes hi-tech with £8,000 grant for iPads

The Tin Hat Centre was awarded the cash from the Lottery grants scheme which funds small, community-based projects across the country.

The centre on Chapel Road now boasts a number of iPads, tablets and up to date software to meet the needs of folk living in rural areas.

The new suite will help tackle isolation by using communication software Skype - and give residents access to cheaper online services.

It will also equip those who attend group and one-to-one courses starting in September, with new transferable skills.

Ashfield MP Gloria De Piero got to grips with the latest gadgets at the launch event of the Flexible, Rural, Advanced Technology Suite

Ms De Piero was keen to check out the brand new facilities available to residents as a result of a successful funding bid to the Awards for All programme.

She said; “The Tin Hat Centre is already an amazing resource for residents who live in a lovely but fairly rural area and this latest scheme is yet another string to its bow. Paulette and the team do a great job and we are lucky to have them.

“People living in and around Selston will now be able to stay connected better than ever before thanks to the iPads, tablets and great training courses on offer.”

On the day of the launch, the MP was joined by staff, volunteers and around 30 users of the centre as well as local councillor Liz Mays.

The Tin Hat Centre offers adult education classes, hosts fundraising events and has its own cafe.

It also rents out rooms to businesses and for social functions and is the village’s base for Nottinghamshire Police and SureStart.