A service that has helped hundreds of people learn basic skills and introduced many thousands to the wonders of the worldwide web is toasting 15 successful years in the borough.
And on Saturday October 7, BETA (Better Education and Training for Adults) will celebrate in style with a special fundraising casino night at Wigan Town Hall.
Based on King Street, BETA began life in 1991 as the brainchild of local women Eileen Bithell and Eileen Walsh. Since then the service has helped nearly 700 adults through its education project and gone on to set up the country’s first charity internet café – the BETA Netc@fe, which so far has seen more than 26,000 pass through the doors.
The café provides free tutor help for anyone who needs as well as providing valuable work experience opportunities for people with disabilities.
The co-founding partners say they identified a need in Wigan for a project providing free basic skills education for as long as a student needed it. The pair noticed that other similar services around at the time would charge students and allow them to attend for only a limited amount of time.
The two Eileens have helped students of all abilities, including those who have never been able to write their own name; people who need help with entrance tests for the police and armed forces as well as those who need help when studying for GCSEs, A levels and even university.
Eileen Bithell says: “We are proud of all our students, past and present and of what they have achieved. We have always thought of BETA as a ‘stepping stone’, helping people to gain the skills they need to advance educationally, professionally and personally.”
Over its 15 year history BETA has won a number of high profile awards, including: a Citizenship Award for outstanding contributions to community education, the Big Issue award for making a difference to the community, the Duke of Westminster Award for business excellence and the two Eileens were named North West Women Social Entrepreneurs of the Year in 2004.
As with all worthy causes funding for BETA has never been consistent but the two Eileens have pledged never to put personal gain before the good of their students. This has meant that for much of the time the duo has worked unpaid and has even taken out personal loans to keep the project going.
Even after all its success the scheme is without mainstream funding and survives on grants from Wigan Council’s Adult Services Department, which pays the rent, rates and electricity of BETA Education and Douglas Valley pays towards the Netc@fe running costs. They have just been successful in getting a Lloyds TSB Foundation grant towards six months’ running costs of both projects.
Eileen Walsh says: “It’s disheartening that we are constantly searching for funding, but we are prepared to carry on at BETA even without salaries. We are always applying from grants and are hopeful that we will secure at least some funding to allow us to pay our running costs, staff salaries, buy books and teaching resources and to replace equipment.”
To celebrate BETA’s 15th Birthday they have organised a casino night at the Town Hall on Saturday October 7 at 7.30pm.
Tickets cost £5 and include a buffet and £1,000 in ‘funny money’ to gamble with. There will be the usual casino games including Roulette, Blackjack and Baccarat.
There will also be a Prize Every Time Tombola, a raffle, live music and other activities. Tickets must be bought in advance. The Eileens would also love to hear from past students.
To buy tickets or to make a donation to BETA contact Eileen on 01942 829474, e-mail eileen@betanetcafe.co.uk or pop into the BETA Netc@fe at Rodney House on King Street.
- BETA Education Project operates five sessions a week: 9.30am to 12.30pm (Monday to Friday) and 1.30pm to 2.45pm (Monday, Wednesday, Friday). Help is available on a sessional or drop-in basis.
- BETA Netc@fe is open Monday to Saturday between 9.30am and 4.30pm. Internet access costs £1.50 an hour with half and hour free. Free one-to-one tutor support and drinks and snacks are available.
Notes to Editors
- Help is provided with literacy, numeracy and life skills. The students choose a research project each year. Previous projects have included World War II, Technology Today and Life in the 1950’s. The BETA students have also written and performed a number of plays in various venues throughout the Borough. Nine residential training weeks have taken place to Wales, France, Belgium, Italy, Blackpool and London with over 250 days out organised.
- BETA is an accredited centre for City & Guilds and OCR qualifications. In the last 15 years, students have gained over 200 City & Guilds qualifications, over 500 OCR (RSA) accreditations and over 50 St John Ambulance First Aid certificates. Twenty students have gained Environmental Health Food Handler’s certificates and the North West Tourist Board Welcome Host certificate.
- For more information contact Eileen on 01942 829474 or via e-mail at eileen@betanetcafe.co.uk
