Skip to main content
Start of content

What are CAPs?

About Community Access Points (CAPs)

A Community Access Point (CAP) is a community information, communication and technology resource available to all, provided by Herefordshire Council’s CAPs project.

For isolated communities with limited access to services and information.  The Herefordshire network of 21 Community Access Points give communities better access to a whole range of local, regional and national services via the internet, as well as providing additional facilities within the community which can have a positive effect on quality of life, reduction of anti-social behaviour and learning opportunities.


Why are CAPs necessary?

Community Access Points (CAPs) provide a complete village IT resource within a social environment. Individuals can see and speak to relatives on the other side of the world through a free web link. Residents can use CAP equipment free of charge for personal or business use. Training courses both formal and informal are available, as are homework clubs and social events.

CAPs are volunteer-run facilities in community buildings which allow local people to use many resources including computers and the Internet. The volunteers not only make the facility available but are also on hand to provide practical support.

The project provided equipment such as laptop computers, software, printer, webcams, speakers, gamepads and joysticks, digital cameras, camcorders, digital projector and screen in addition to a broadband connection, insurance and security.

21 CAPs across the county are now available with statistics showing over 4000 uses up to Sept 07; 900 logins by young people accessing the facilities; 2500 training hours completed; 200 new volunteers helping to run and manage them

The CAPs Project has been one of the major innovative Community projects in the county in recent years. It has expanded and enhanced community life in rural Herefordshire. When it ended on September 28th 2007 it left an amazing legacy of greatly improved rural access to information, services, learning, job opportunities and personal communication. The project team also recruited and left in place a huge network of 200 new volunteers supporting their communities by managing and running the CAPs.

The project team has worked with local volunteers to create steering groups that administer their CAPs and ensure their sustainability into the future. They have delivered training for the CAPs volunteers in key areas critical to the success of CAPs in the future: managing the equipment; accessibility; volunteer recruitment and management; Internet safety; marketing and promotion; helping beginners to use computers; raising sponsorship.

They have also developed many links between the CAPs and partner organisations such as council departments, voluntary sector agencies and training providers.

Each CAP has been provided with a home page on the myherefordshire.com portal, so to find your nearest CAP go to: Herefordshire Community Access Points


Back to top