Powys Enhances Youth Information Service with Satellite Solution from Excelerate Technology

08/07/2008

Powys County Council has enhanced the delivery of its Youth Information Service with two new purpose-built vehicles equipped with the latest satellite-based communications equipment.  Supplied by Excelerate Technology, the UK’s leading provider of mobile data, voice and video solutions using satellite and wireless, the new mobile units will enable Powys to meet statutory requirements for the provision of informal learning opportunities, guidance and support for young people as part of the Welsh Assembly’s National Youth Service Strategy for Wales and young people’s ten Entitlements.

The service is targeted at young people between the ages of eleven and twenty five with a special focus on thirteen to nineteen year olds.  It will provide individual help and guidance on a wide range of issues including education, training, employment, law, finance, health, housing, leisure and recreation.

The new vehicles were designed to meet the key objectives of the newly reorganised Powys Youth Information Service and the addition of satellite technology provides a rapidly deployable, easy to use solution that enables high-speed broadband to be accessed regardless of location.  Each vehicle is fitted with a motorized 75cm satellite dish that automatically folds down when mobile and can be operational within four minutes of arriving on site.  A laptop computer enables youth workers to access the Internet to obtain specific information for young people.

According to Chris Jones, Youth Services Manager for Powys CC:  “We aim to make a real contribution towards raising the quality of young people’s lives.  Excelerate Technology has provided us with a simple to use yet effective solution that enables our part-time youth workers to provide the highest level of support without having to worry about the technology.”

The Youth Information Service vehicles will be used to deliver information sessions at high schools throughout the County on a fortnightly basis as well as providing outreach services to youth clubs and community youth groups at other times including evenings.  They will also be deployed at local events and festivals to provide information and to raise the profile of the service with young people, partners and stakeholders.  The Youth Information Service supports the Children & Young People’s Partnership objectives to provide a range of information.  It links to the CYPP Active and Health lifestyles theme via ‘SORTED!’, a sexual health advice service valued by young people. The CYPP contributed money for the purchase of the vehicles after young people voted in favour of doing so.

Mark Kerr, Chief Executive of Powys County Council, added: "These new vehicles will not only significantly enhance our Youth Information Service, but the built-in satellite communications capability will enable us to deploy the vehicles anywhere in the county at short notice to provide communications support in the event of a local disaster.  They will also provide us with an essential fall back should our central facilities be compromised."

The satellite network is managed by Excelerate Technology in real-time from a Network Operations Centre (NOC) based at its headquarters at St Mellons, Cardiff.  The performance of the network is monitored to ensure that available bandwidth meets current requirements with additional bandwidth instantly available to meet demand.