Twitterfiction: Literacy and digital literacy As part of Adult Learning Week, Get IT Together embarked on a voyage combining literacy and digital literacy, supporting our local learning centre in the promotion of world book night, taking reading to the masses and then working with Highlife Highland to pull together an innovative Creative Writing Conference, the first of its type in Sutherland.

The Conference was held in Brora Learning Centre, and our role, as digital fanatics was to enthuse folk about the world of blogging as a means of providing a public, creative space, where folk will actually read your work: a platform for budding writers to share their stories, poems or Dr. Who passions.

In a room of 25, only one person had ever read a blog, never mind thought of writing one themselves. .

And then we came to microblogging, and to Twitter in particular. We talked about Twitter as a public forum, a connecting space- and tasked our creative bunch, each one, to write their own Twitter Fiction. below.

Hotspots - June 2013

bringing you all the latest news from our Highlands projects

The results were inspiring, creative and undoubtedly brilliant and are listed Those attending spoke positively about the training, and asked for further groups on writing online, and Get IT Together is now working with both the Adult Learning Co-ordinator and Brora Learning Centre in several new projects which will combine literacy and digital literacy. The TwitterFiction stories were shared widely, by our local councillor (@deirdemackay) and by influential blogger and creative digital inclusion enthusiast John Popham (@johnpopham) to name a few. Read, share and enjoy! Empty throne, alone, ruined dress, Forgotten damsel, delightful distress. There is no armoured angel, I am no princess

#twitterfiction

Went to the Learning Centre. Thought it was a different course. I'm the only guy looking for the emergency exit. #twitterfiction

Carers Online Success

Get IT Together worked with Connecting Carers co-ordinator Jo Chenhall to provide a service for stay at home carers and allow them access to internet and digital inclusion training.

What Happened

Connecting Carers delivers the Carers Centre Services of HCCF across the Highlands. Connecting Carers works in both urban and rural areas have built a strong reputation, both locally and nationally, for being the natural place to go to find out about issues affecting users of health and community care services and carers

Connecting Carers work with carers and young carers and are committed to reaching out to them wherever they may live in the Highlands. CC also reaches out to local businesses to ensure that carers within their organisation can be directed to us for help, support and information

Irene worked in partnership with Jo to ensure Get It Together could provide training right across the highland area, as and when the carers needed it and could attend. Training sessions were organised in various locations, including Thurso, Tain, Dingwall and Inverness.

Due to the nature of the carers commitments our tutors have had to be flexible to their needs but it is because of this that the session have been a success. We have been able to work around the needs and ensure they are receiving training which fits around their demands. The sessions have now been running for a few weeks and have been a success, the carers group in Thurso have really enjoyed their session and progressing well. Heather, the groups tutor, highlights the benefits of such training ‘it’s a really great group to train, they have been really getting into the internet and loving learning all the benefits which has to offer for them.’

Key Achievements

Targeting a new group of learners

Working with new partner

Diversifying from the normal groups worked with

Providing training for groups who otherwise would struggle to gain access

Connecting Carers being able to provide a new service to clients

Promoting the project across Highland

Delivering across Highland region

via a pan Highland partner

Project Locations & Social Media Contacts

Brigitte Vallance - Project Coordinator, Nairn

Tel: 07824 143034

Jane Beaton- Regional Digital Participation Manager -

Skye, Wester Ross and Lochaber

Tel: 07557 97 31 38

Janette Mackie - Project Coordinator, Orkney

Tel: 07788 395859

Irene Warner-Mackintosh -Tel: 07785 462010

Shona Munro - Tel: 07827 240452

Project Coordinators, North West Sutherland