By Lucy Ashton
MSP Jackie Baillie got a taste of virtual reality when she joined young residents at Bellsmyre Digital’s SHINE sessions this week.
The gaming and VR events for young adults took place at Dumbarton’s Concord CE Centre, as part of a range of Easter holiday events supported by West Dunbartonshire Council.
Cash from the authority’s 2024 Easter SHINE fund helped back the sessions, staged by The Bellsmyre Digital Community Project.
Grant funding was made available by West Dunbartonshire Council to help alleviate the stress that holiday periods can bring for some families.
School Holidays Involve Nurture & Engage (SHINE) funding aims to help organisations and groups to increase the provision of free social activities for school-aged children over holiday periods and provides breakfast and lunch clubs.
Local not-for-profit organisations interested in helping take up the slack for families during the Easter holidays were invited to apply for funding worth up to £2,000.
As well as gaming and virtual reality workshops, Bellsmyre Digital also staged 3D printing sessions and drone events as part of the programme.
And Dumbarton’s Labour MSP, Jackie Baillie, went along to pick up some gaming tips.
She said: “I was delighted to go along to Bellsmyre Digital’s Easter SHINE sessions.
“West Dunbartonshire Council’s SHINE programme provides much-needed support for cash-strapped families during school breaks, so it was great to see what Bellsmyre Digital were doing as part of their sessions.
“The organisation already provides help to members of the community to get them digitally connected and assist them in developing the skills needed to progress in today’s world.”
The charitable organisation provides digital support sessions, classes, clubs and certificated courses to the community.
