First Minister visits Barry Makerspace
The Vale of Glamorgan Council welcomed the Welsh Government First Minister Eluned Morgan and Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Jane Hutt to see the innovative facilities on offer at Barry Library.
The visit highlighted the digital learning opportunities available to Vale residents at Barry and Penarth libraries – including the brand-new Makerspaces.
The Makerspace scheme offers the use of a variety of different tools and equipment – including a 3D Printer, a Cricut Maker 3, a Heat Press, a DSLR Camera and much more.
Cllr Rhiannon Birch, Cabinet Member for Education, Arts and the Welsh Language, said: “We were delighted as a Council to welcome the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary on their visit to see the state-of-the-art digital facilities at Barry Library.
“The Makerspaces provide access to a diverse range of creative learning opportunities right in the heart of communities in Barry and Penarth.
“This project is a vital part of the Council’s on-going commitment to the Digital Inclusion Charter, by providing these resources to promote and improve the digital skills of all residents in the Vale.”
Each Makerspace location offers a number of exciting workshops and events for residents throughout the year, as well as 3D Printing and Coding sessions for children and teens during school holidays.
The project to date has benefitted from £98,000 of capital funding from the Welsh Government.
First Minister Eluned Morgan said: “It was great to visit Barry Library and see how Makerspace is tackling digital inclusion by making sure people have the equipment and skills to access the services they need. This can be a real barrier to getting a job or accessing essential services, which can really affect people across all areas of their lives.
“Seven per cent of over 16’s in Wales don’t use the internet and that rises among people who are unemployed or disabled - and that’s something we’re determined to fix. Well done to everyone involved in this excellent scheme!”