Father and daughter team help old laptops pass their screen test - HI HUB
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
HI HUB
News and Information for Histon and Impington
Posts published from 18th December 2020 to 14th January 2021, with Categories: Features, News, from www.hihub.info.
Father and daughter team help old laptops pass their screen
test
By Bridget Davidson
14 January 2021
Categories: Features
Tags: Community, Computers, covid-19, IT, Parish Council
“If you have a laptop that was recently replaced and wish to
donate it please message me. I’ve arranged a small team of
people who can help work some magic to erase your data,
install an OS (operating system) and therefore allow kids to
access online learning. Thank you.”
A kind-hearted local dad and his teenage daughter have given
up their free time to rebuild old laptops to lend to local
children, allowing them to access remote learning in lockdown
and their parents to get back to work. Bridget Davidson
reports.
T
he article you’re reading right now might not have
been written if it hadn’t been for the time and
expertise of Histon resident Colin Myles and his
daughter Anya. Why? Because I didn’t have a
computer to write it on. When trying to set up homeschooling Colin’s post on local social media.
for my seven-year-old son, Kiril, I discovered our ancient iPad
was too old to access Teams (the computer program primary
I contacted the Junior School immediately and, a week later,
school children in our villages are using to do remote
went there to pick up a loan laptop for Kiril. Now he and I are
learning), leaving me with no choice but to let him take over
both back online and back on track.
my laptop. The one I use to run my business; the one I write
articles for HI HUB on. I was effectively locked out of my own
But access to this very precious resource couldn’t have been
life.
achieved without the dedication, hard work and community
spirit of Colin and his daughter Anya, 13, who helped him
Techies to the rescue!
rebuild the laptops. Between them, the pair has rebuilt and
sent to the school for redistribution 33 laptops, with more to
Then, on Tuesday 5 January, the day he had been due to go
go.
back to school, I read a post on our local Facebook group, HI
People, from Colin Myles, an IT expert and well-known locally
I spoke to Colin and Anya to ask how their project came
for various community roles including member of the Feast
about. Colin, who works as a Senior Systems Architect at
Committee; Chair of the Infant School PTA, and Beaver Scout
Schlumberger, explains: “I work in IT… doing things like
leader. Colin was appealing urgently for people to donate their
collaboration, events, getting people to use IT, so I
old laptops.
understand what it takes to be able to do remote learning. I
realised late last week when the school closures were
Colin wrote: “The Junior and Infant school have a need for
announced that the Junior School would be doing online
laptops so pupils can access online learning where they
learning so there was going to be real need for laptops.
currently have no IT accessible at home.
Although they’re doing their best, the Department of
Education can’t get one million laptops to kids. I knew there’d The pair worked tirelessly at their dining table – to the
be an issue. I knew there were loads of machines out there frustration of Colin’s wife, Julie – from the evening of
that would be useful and that the villagers would donate.” Thursday 7 January, all weekend until Sunday 10th. Colin
even took the Friday off work as holiday in order to get all the
laptops up and running in time for the start of the second
week of lockdown learning because he saw the urgency.
“It’s important to do this right now,” he says, “as once the
vaccine is in place, they won’t be needed. That’s why it’s
important to get out there and do something right now.”
I suggest that this must have been hard work. Colin admits it
was but, if nothing else, it gave him and Anya something to
do.
“We’ve watched most of Netflix during lockdown and there’s
not much more to watch,” he laughs.
Soon Histon & Impington Parish Council got involved too,
giving Colin a total of £550 from the village COVID fund to
pay for new SSDs, which sped up the process considerably
HI HUB writer, Bridget Davidson with her son Kiril, 7, who is now using a loan
and saved many redundant laptops from landfill. With the cost
laptop for homeschooling. Photo: Bridget Davidson
of a new basic laptop at around the same price, Colin notes:
“We turned around 30 laptops for the price of one.”
A helping hand
Everyone’s happy
And they did. Residents from across Histon & Impington and
further afield answered Colin’s call and brought him their old
I asked Anya how she felt about rebuilding the laptops.
tech.
“Happy. It’s really nice to know they’re going to be used. I
“We’ve got about 16 or 17 older machines. A couple are going
enjoy knowing that once we’ve made one, that it’s going to go
to be recycled for parts. Two desktops, three tablets and two
to someone who needs it. That it going to help them.”
MacBooks. Another 15 from one company that are coming in…
and six more from people on the way. By the time we’ve
Someone else is happy too. Another person who benefitted
finished we will have about 50-60 useable machines, and 10
from one of Colin and Anya’s laptops was Naomi Chapman,
older ones that will be reused .”
who lives in Impington with her three girls, Siena, 8, Ria, 7,
And Daisy, 5, all in different year groups. Understandably
But collecting the machines was the easy part. Now Colin had
homeschooling was a technological challenge, so Naomi
to make them safe and usable again for schoolchildren. This
bought a laptop.
would take time, but luckily he had a willing and capable
assistant to hand, his daughter Anya. Although Anya, who’s in
Year 8 at IVC has never done anything like this before, she
was keen to help.
“I was bored,” she says with the shining honesty of a
teenager, but a caring one too. “Because I saw you doing it, I
just wanted to help.”
And help she did. Working together in the evenings after
Anya’s online lessons and Colin’s own job, they followed a
lengthy process for each and every laptop. First they had to
wipe all the original owner’s data three times to ensure there
were no security concerns – a process that sometimes took
18 hours overnight – reboot it from a USB stick, install
Windows and do updates, all of which Anya participated in.
“It’s been a huge help, I have to say,” says Colin.
“I love helping people,” Anya adds.
A smashing time
Naomi Chapman’s children have benefitted from a loan laptop. From left: Ria,
There was some fun to be had too, as the pair enjoyed 7, Daisy, 5, and Siena, 8.
smashing up the old hard drives which had to be physically
destroyed.
“I purchased a secondhand one for £50 but it has ended up “We’ve been teaching people across the country to do it as
crashing halfway through tutorials so it wasn’t ideal. I ended well. I’m trying to inspire other people to help. In Cottenham
up getting really frustrated with it and not being able to I gave them some instructions and they are doing it there
complete their work assigned for them.” now. There’s a guy in South Yorkshire too, in fact all over the
country. I work for global company with 100,000 people and
Naomi got in contact with the Junior School and the laptop 3,000 in IT and tech. On Monday Anya and I are giving a
she received has been invaluable. “I am truly grateful for it. webinar to tell them why they should do it too. If anyone
It’s really helping us catch up. It’s helped me gain a routine wants to know how to do it they can email me.”
with my children and I’m using it for each of them to share
and doing one to one with them whilst the girls play or do As for Anya, she can now get back to doing the things she
some arts and crafts.” loves; cuddling her cat Bambi, going for walks with friends
and – when the pandemic allows – playing football again for
I asked her what she’d like to say to Colin and Anya. Histon Hornets Under 13s. Their family can finally have their
dining table back too. For now.
“They are amazing, doing what they’ve done to help families
like us get by during this hard time, they deserve something To donate a laptop or find out how to rebuild your own, email
back for giving and helping during all of this. Thank you so Colin at: cbsmyles@gmail.com
much! My family and I are truly grateful!”
To request a loan device for your child’s use, please contact
Colin urges others to do the same as Naomi: “If people are the Junior School on 01223 712192 or email:
struggling and if people can go to the schools, they can help. office@histonimpingtonjunior.co.uk. IVC also has devices
Some people are coping, but with this they can do it available to loan out to their students.
properly.”
Not content with helping his local community, Colin is also
spreading the word about how others can do the same, after
posting on the Family Lockdown Tips & Ideas Facebook page.
Abbey Farm sale progressing slowly but surely
By Amanda Borrill
14 January 2021
Categories: News
Tags: Abbey Farm, Community, Parish Council
are being slowed down by Covid restrictions and the general
pressure of business. It is hoped that the sale will be
complete by March 2021.
AFTFG has been meeting regularly as a group as well as with
the Abbey Farm buyer and Histon & Impington Parish Council.
The buyer has agreed to immediately sell-on LM and CCSA to
the community on the day of sale. It can then be developed
as a public resource, balancing nature conservation, public
access to green space, education and leisure.
The land will initially be owned by an intermediate company,
funded by local couple Bogusia and Anthony Jenking, and
managed by several guarantors within the village. The
purpose of this is to bring speed and ‘bridging’ finance to the
process. Once the monies have been raised, the land will then
be passed on to a community body. There has been a great
Behind the scenes, the Abbey Fields Task and Finish Group
deal of thought on the best organisation to eventually own
(AFTFG) continues to work hard to secure this glorious piece
and manage the land and the Parish Council is now
of countryside for the future enjoyment of our entire
considering how they can best take on the job. They would be
community. HI HUB is delighted to share the following update
a very attractive owner because they represent the entire
from Howard Biddle on behalf of the group…
village and are well-established, secure and credible for
T
donors. At the moment we are investigating the best legal
he sale of Abbey Farm is progressing, and the
and tax-efficient structures to achieve this. It is important to
community is still on course to buy part of the
note that the Parish Council won’t be buying land outright, it
estate – Long Meadow (LM), the water meadow
will be through public donations.
by Park Lane, and the remarkably regenerating
Croft Close set-aside (CCSA) south of Gun’s Lane.
The sale is taking longer than expected as all sides’ solicitors
So good news for the village but we are not quite there yet. Previous related articles:
And when we are, we will be asking everyone to convert their
pledges into real donations so please don’t spend all of your https://www.hihub.info/news/optimism-grows-as-mystery-
savings in the January sales! bidder-withdraws-from-abbey-farm-purchase/
Happy New Year to you all. https://www.hihub.info/features/abbey-farm-mystery-bidder-
sought/
Howard Biddle
On behalf of Abbey Fields Task and Finish Group
Read more at abbeyfarm.online
Access issues provoke angry reaction to development plans
By Liz Hill
14 January 2021
Categories: News
Tags: Building Works, Consultation, Planning
Developers claim the plans would “completely regenerate a
currently vacant site, bringing vitality to the local area and
increasing connectivity within Histon”.
The new village would comprise a three-storey apartment
block housing 65 one- and two-bedroom apartments; 36 one-
and two-bedroom single storey, bungalow style apartments;
and four bungalows along the entrance route to the site.
There would also be communal areas and facilities designed
to meet the needs of the residents, who must be more than
60 years old.
This would be the first McCarthy & Stone Retirement Village
development to provide a mix of accommodation of this
nature and the scheme would dwarf other facilities serving a
similar purpose in Histon & Impington. The site would provide
R
twice as many residences as Brackenbury Manor in Kay Hitch
esidents are gearing up to oppose plans for what
Way and Windmill Grange on Windmill Hill, each of which
developers describe as a ‘Retirement Village’ to be
comprise 46 properties.
built at the southern end of Home Close, Histon, on
land belonging to Jam Factory owners Hain
However, a national population trends suggest more homes
Daniels.
for older people will be needed in the years ahead, and a
Government initiative is encouraging new developments. The
A planning application has been submitted by property
developers point out that the Government will pay the local
developer McCarthy & Stone for 105 new retirement homes
authority around £378,000 for every 45 new homes built –
on the land, known locally as Barrel Field. Full details,
money it can spend as it wishes.
including 114 separate documents, are available on the
Greater Cambridge Shared Planning website, and planners
Residents’ unease
are consulting with local people as part of their wider
assessment of the proposals.
The community was first made aware of the development in
September 2020 and was invited to respond to a preliminary
Local residents are among a long list of consultees being
consultation.
invited to respond to the proposals, and Planners have told HI
HUB they now have until 12 February to contribute to the
consultation – a short extension to the original deadline. Site 154 responses were submitted, 40 per cent of which were
notices will be displayed at various locations around the described by the developer as supportive. 69 comments
proposal site next week. acknowledged a local need for specialist housing for local
older people, and McCarthy & Stone say some people –
though it is not clear how many – gave outright approval to
The Parish Council will be reviewing the proposals in detail at
the proposals. Others added comments expressing
its next planning committee on 2 February, to assess their
reservations. “I am in favour of affordable quality care for the
impact on the village and the implications for residents. If it
elderly, but my concern is in the access to the site”, said one.
objects to the proposal, it will be asking that it goes to the
And another commented: “I do agree that this type of
SCDC Planning Committee.
housing is a good use of the site providing it genuinely
“Bringing vitality”
doesn’t create any greater amount of traffic than anticipated The Statement refers to the benefits gained by local residents
in the plans”. from a “turning head” at the access to the new Village, which
would enable traffic to change direction more easily.
Over half of respondents (53 per cent) simply objected to the
scheme outright and expressed their unease. Respondents The Village would include 64 car parking spaces, most of
raised issues with already overstretched services in Histon, which will be purchased by homeowners, with a few available
such as the local GP; the potential loss of biodiversity at the for staff and visitors. This number, the company says, will
site; and overwhelmingly, the access route into the site. ensure “no overspill parking will occur on the local road
network”, but pre-application advice from Cambridgeshire
76 of these negative comments included objections to Home County Council warned that “the proposed parking areas
Close being the sole access point to the new Village, and 17 create a car dominated environment”.
mentioned traffic issues in surrounding area, referring to
already congested roads in vicinity of the site. They also The Transport Statement assumes that only 0.4% of journeys
highlight the risks associated with the entrance to the site, from the site would be by bicycle, one in 35 residences will
which would involve traffic crossing a public footpath, and the need to store a bike, and only three long-stay spaces will be
impact of additional traffic at the junction with the High provided for these, plus some short-stay spaces for visitors.
Street, opposite Tesco.
New bus stop
Home Close is a narrow residential no-through-road, where
the width of the road means cars consistently have to park on Among the justification given for the suitability of the site for
the pavements to allow traffic to pass. However, a photograph the new Village is its proximity to the busway. An assumption
included with the planning application suggests otherwise, is built into the proposals that there will be a “significant
and local Facebook groups are speculating that the image improvement in access to sustainable transport” as a result of
isn’t quite what it seems. One described it as a “very strange building a new bus stop adjacent to the site – to be paid for
and unreal” and another posted: “I have never known Home by the developer.
Close to be as quiet as it is shown in the picture in the last 20
or so years”. Another stop would potentially help Histon residents get on
the bus and Cambridgeshire County Council has already
Despite the weight of local objections to the traffic started looking into the proposal. Bus company Stagecoach is
implications of the proposed development, MCCarthy & Stone said to be supportive in principle. Seven residents who replied
has dismissed residents’ concerns, saying: “We have to the consultation agreed the new busway stop will benefit
undertaken a Transport Assessment of the access options local people.
available that have concluded safe access can be made via
Home Close”. But it is unclear yet how the bus stop on the south side of the
busway can be accommodated, as the land there does not
Assumptions belong to Hain Daniels, but is part of Histon Wood and owned
by the county.
McCarthy & Stone describe the Barrel Field site as being in “a
highly sustainable location, with residents not required to rely Furthermore, there would be no vehicle access to the
on private modes of transport.” proposed stops, which would be connected to the new
development by a footpath, but not a road. To improve access
Its analysis is based on the assumption that the majority of to the busway, the existing informal footpath beside the
residents will give up their vehicles, either on entry to the Community Orchard would be surfaced, and external lighting
new development or shortly afterwards, and that 26% of the installed.
mainly female residents will have “never held a driving
licence”. Full details of the planning application are now available
online here. Responses to it can be submitted online here or
But despite this, the Transport Statement concludes that even in writing to planning officer David Norris at South
under this scenario, only 17% of journeys from the new Cambridgeshire Hall, Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne,
development would be by pedestrians and 10% by bus, while Cambridge CB23 6EA. Comments not submitted online can be
70% would be by vehicle, prompting a further 163 trips a day copied to South Cambridgeshire District Councillor Pippa
along the street. This, it concludes, means vehicles associated Heylings and to the Parish Council.
with the development are “unlikely to meet on Home Close”,
and “will not have a significant impact on the operation of the
local road network”.
Minibus gears up to help with hospital vaccine trips
By Liz Hill
14 January 2021
Categories: News
Tags: covid-19, HI Friends, Medical, Transport, Vaccinations
been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or been in
contact with anyone who has, is asked not to request
transport.
Safety first
To minimise any risk to all who are travelling in the minibus,
before and after each trip the driver will clean any surfaces
which have been touched by either the driver or the
passenger.
Passengers will be required to wear gloves and face coverings
throughout the journeys, as will drivers, who will always wear
masks if they are seated within two metres of a passenger,
which they will attempt to avoid at all times. Passengers will
have to sit in seats as directed by the driver.
Drivers will not enter homes to collect or return passengers,
S
or give them physical help to enter or leave the minibus,
eventy people in Histon, Impington and Orchard except by operating the tail lift. Any passenger needing other
Park tested positive for Covid-19 in the seven days assistance will have to be accompanied by a companion or
to 8 January, extending a consistent rise in case carer.
numbers since shortly before Christmas. But news
of the vaccine starting to be administered is giving hope that
The driver will usually wait for the return journey, but if the
the current crisis can be shortened.
minibus is required elsewhere, the drop-off and pick-up may
be done by different drivers.
As part of the Histon & Impington Coronavirus Response, the
Community Transport team is gearing up to support the huge
Payment/Donations
national effort to get the most vulnerable people vaccinated
as soon as possible.
The terms of the HI Friends minibus licence prohibit charging
fares to passengers and HI Friends will undertake these
In conjunction with the Histon, Impington and Girton
journeys for free to individuals during the period of the crisis.
Community Car Scheme (HIGS), a scheme is being set up to
provide transport for local residents when they are invited to
But the costs will mount up so donations will be very
a vaccination centre or other medical appointments outside
welcome. The team hopes passengers will give amounts that
the villages.
reflect what would have been charged by the Community Car
Scheme, if it were able to run.
Residents unable to use other forms of transport can ring the
HIGS phone line on 07982 108927 to arrange for a booking
Round
on the HI Community Minibus. This will enable lifts to be Destination
trip fee
provided in a Covid-secure manner.
Addenbrookes Hospital £8
Don Kelly, Vice Chair of Friends of Histon & Impington Huntingdon Road Surgery, Arbury Road
Community (HI Friends), has prepared some notes, so Surgery, Firs House Surgery, £3
passengers can understand what is expected of them and Telegraph St Surgery, Cottenham
their drivers. Newmarket £10
Ely £9
Don’t endanger others
Huntingdon £10
To minimise the handling of cash, passengers will be asked to
Above all, passengers are urged not to book transport or to
put any donation inside an envelope and leave it on the
travel if they could endanger others. This includes those who
minibus. The driver will then pass the envelope to the HI
have had any symptoms within the previous seven days that
Friends Charity Manager.
could be Covid-19, or if they have been advised that they
may have the virus.
To book a journey on the HI Community Minibus, ring
07982 108927
Also, anyone who has been in contact with anyone with the
virus or with symptoms within the past 14 days, or who has
Work begins on special school in Impington
By Liz Hill
14 January 2021
Categories: News
It describes its mission as “enabling the self” – equipping
students with the skills, confidence and abilities to take their
place in the world.
Sensitive design
Comprising one single-storey and one two-storey buildings,
the layout of the school has been specially designed to be
sensitive to the social and emotional demands of students,
and conducive to their learning.
B
uilding work started this week on The Cavendish
School, which will be set in the grounds to the The corridors will be wider than usual, with no dead-ends,
south-east of the Impington Village College which will help students navigate their way around the school
campus. The aim is for an official opening in without feeling trapped or claustrophobic. Natural light –
autumn 2021. particularly beneficial to young people with autism – is central
to the design.
The school will be the world’s first International Baccalaureate
Facilities that support both academic and vocational learning
special autism school and Cambridgeshire’s first state
will include a calm sensory breakout room and a horticultural
maintained special free school provision for young people with
room with opportunities for planting and growing.
autism.
Ryan Kelsall, Deputy CEO of Eastern Learning Alliance which
Initially the school will admit around 40 students in Years 3 to
runs The Cavendish School, explained: “One of our aims is to
7, and year on year this will be extended to year 13, to
provide a safe, nurturing space, alongside inclusive and
accommodate ages 7 to 19 years. The maximum capacity will
comprehensive support so that all of our students thrive. It is
be 80 students.
fantastic to see the first building blocks of that promise come
to fruition.
A place in the world
“Our hope is that young people with autism learn to love and
The vision is for the school to provide a safe and nurturing
celebrate their differences – seeing them as bridges, not
environment in which young people with autism can enjoy
barriers.”
learning, achieve their potential, and develop the skills they
need to thrive as independent, emotionally and socially
confident adults. Read also: The Cavendish School – a sanctuary
Education at the click of a button
By Victoria Hearn
14 January 2021
Categories: Features
N
avigating the disruption that Covid-19 caused to
education last year was a huge challenge for
schools all over the world, and it hasn’t been any
different for us here at Impington Village College.
We now find ourselves in the same situation that we faced 10
months ago, but thankfully, due to the lessons learned and
technology to enable remote learning methods, we have
managed to continue delivering a high standard of education
across all year groups. When the latest lockdown was
announced, all of our learning went live and online within 24
hours.
The same… but different
For 10 months now, Impington Village College has had to rise
to the challenge of delivering remote learning and keeping its To mirror the College day, we have implemented timetabled
community spirit alive. Principal Victoria Hearn explains lessons, all day, every day, as per the normal College
how they have navigated the transition – and what the ‘new timetable. Attendance is compulsory and the lessons are
normal’ looks like in the virtual classroom.
calendared at least 24 hours in advance so that students have All our staff remain consistently willing to get involved and
plenty of time to arrange access. adapt as best they can to the new changes. At the start of the
first lockdown we introduced Microsoft Teams. We had always
The lessons are live for 50-55 minutes and include some planned to introduce it during the current academic year, but
interactive elements for students to get involved with. We’ve when lockdown began, we condensed our planned 20-hour
ensured all of our students have access to technology, induction period into a week of staff training. This also
including delivering Chromebooks to those who need them so included a huge virtual TeachMeet, attended by nearly 100
that no-one misses out. Expectations for behaviour in online teachers across our Trust, Eastern Learning Alliance, to share
lessons are the same as in College; if students don’t meet good practice. Everyone worked extremely hard to learn the
teachers’ expectations then they will be sanctioned and may new technology and, in turn, provide our students with the
be removed from lessons. best possible educational experience.
Wider support The interactions between students, teachers and pastoral
team has been, and will continue to be, constant. We found
There is daily, compulsory tutor time for students with their that even the most informal functionalities, like the chat
normal form tutor, and some recommended activities on space, quickly and easily replaced the day-to-day interactions
Tuesday afternoon for an iCAS@Home session – our unique that we had in the classroom. Microsoft Teams helps staff to
programme that supports students’ personal development deliver live – and recorded – lessons, undertake group work,
and wellbeing. set homework and maintain conversations with students at all
times. As we move forward, we will continue using it to
Students’ wellbeing and pastoral care are priorities. Many of enable parents and students to contact their teachers at a
our students are now more insecure and worried about the click of a button.
world around them than they were before the pandemic. It
continues to be our duty to nurture their abilities, while Parents play their part
neutralising anxieties as best we can. Throughout this new
school term, we will be running a number of 1-2-1 and group Our parent community has also been incredibly supportive.
sessions in which students can talk to each other and to Their flexibility has allowed us to really embrace the challenge
experienced members of staff about any worries or concerns of virtual learning, and I’m sure the level of increased
that they have, ensuring our students continue to feel part of communication, particularly in sharing information about the
a community. curriculum and assessments, will continue throughout the
year.
We will also be supporting our students virtually through our
House system, keeping our students motivated and connected As the country enters this new national lockdown, we are in a
to one another. Being able to to discuss in-house activities, far better position to engage learners using new technology
competitions and channel their team-working skills played a and remote learning than we ever would have been before. A
significant role in their wellbeing last year and we hope that it positive takeaway from the whole situation is how much
will have the same effect this time around. everyone at IVC has been able to keep our school’s
community spirit alive. During these uncertain times, our
Staff commitment students have been forced to use their initiative and develop
resilience in their approach to learning – I have been
genuinely impressed and I am proud of them all.You can also read
