Louise Tansey looks at life in the 3Ds area - Deane, Derby and Daubhill FOUR women who climbed on board the Bolton Opportunities Bus for a computer course have successfully completed their course and got off at the next stop.

The women, who did a free five-week computer course, have now completed a course to introduce them into higher education.

The Bolton Opportunities Bus, funded by the 3Ds Partnership, parks up at various sites in Deane, Derby and Daubhill during the week, giving local people the chance to get helpful information and training on their door steps.

Following the course on-board, Frances Hughes, Aysha Kara, Gillian Lee and Shakira Patel have now attended a week-long Aiming Higher course, which introduces mature students to the world of further and higher education.

All the women found the course very worthwhile. Gill said: "It was a real confidence booster and everyone was really friendly and helpful."

Studied

Frances added: "I was surprised at the kind of subjects that can be studied. There is so much choice - nothing like when I was at school. Textiles and engineering were something that girls did not have the opportunity to do and having the chance to have a go was great."

Frances enjoyed the course so much she will now be attending an eight-week Women into Technology course at the Institute introducing women to IT through a hands-on approach.

Aysha also found the computing course on the bus and Aiming Higher a useful route to get back into education. She said: "There is so much on offer and seeing what is available has given me an idea of what direction I would like to take and I will be doing a business and computer Access to Business course in February."

Aysha, Gillian and Frances will be continuing their studies at the Bolton Community Education Service 3Ds Learning Resource Centre and Shakira will be carrying on to Bolton College.

Anyone interested in the next Aiming Higher course starting later this month, or the five-week computer course on the Opportunities Bus, should contact Pauline Ward, Bridie Wareing or Marie Settle at Bolton Institute on 528851 ext.3811.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.