This week we’ll be exhibiting at the annual Standing Conference for Heads of Media Services (SCHOMS) Conference at the University of Hull, 16-18 May.

SCHOMS is the professional body for heads of media services working within UK Higher Education. Its members lead a diverse set of educational, media and institutional support services, ranging from the production of teaching materials to the Audio Visual technology deployed in teaching spaces.

TeacherBoards are a Gold Sponsor for SCHOMS 2012, and are proud to join a select group of brands such as Sony, Epson and Mitsubishi Electric, in supporting the event. The TeacherBoards stand will showcase several innovative new products, including sleek and toughened glass writing boards that come in a range of bright colours, a glass projection screen and the Incognito range – precision made Danish AV technology which is licensed exclusively to TeacherBoards in the UK.

If you are attending the event please visit our stand and say hello to our multi-media system and installation experts, Tim Walshaw and Steve Hubberstey. Tim and Steve will be happy to demonstrate our products and talk you through the range of services we offer Higher Education institutes.

Several members of the TeacherBoards’ team have been busy raising money for charity. Fundraising activities included naming a Collie Dog, homemade Christmas card sales and – for a couple of brave souls – skydiving. We would like to thank everyone who contributed. The money raised has been donated to several charities such as the National Blind Children’s Society.

TeacherBoards’ are proud of the work we do in the community and have decided that over the next 12 months we will be supporting a charity that provides support and care to everyone living in the Airedale area.We will hopefully have news on this exciting new partnership shortly.

Whenever possible Teacherboards tries to support local community projects. In early 2012 we were contacted by Andrea Peace from Carleton Endowed C of E Primary School, Carleton in Craven. The school is a regular customer of ours and over the years we’ve forged a good relationship with the team there. So when Andrea got in touch, asking whether we could donate whiteboards and pens for a project she was working on, we were delighted to help.

Andrea’s school is in partnership with St Theresa’s Police Primary School, Bo, Sierra Leone, West Africa. The project is part of the Global School Partnership scheme that is funded by the Department For International Development (DFID) and has helped several Craven schools build partnerships with schools in Sierra Leone.

The aim of the partnerships are to increase global awareness and help children to consider global issues. Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world. Ten years after the 11 year long civil war ended, the country is still trying to recover and its children face daily challenges that most of us couldn’t imagine. For her visit, Andrea decided that the topic the schools would focus on would be water which, as she commented, is “something we take for granted in our country!”

In February Andrea travelled with seven other teachers from primary and secondary schools within Craven, to Sierra Leone for ten days.

Andrea visited St Theresa’s Police Primary school. In Sierra Leone, children attend primary school from aged six to 12, although many children do not attend school at all. The percentage of children going to secondary school is much lower as some children never reach the required academic level to attend.

St Theresa’s Police Primary School has six classrooms and almost 400 pupils. Lessons are provided from the blackboard and learning is rote. The classrooms are basic – resources for each fit into a small wooden chest – and there are not enough desks for everyone. Many children not have access to exercise books and pencils as these items are too expensive.

Andrea was overwhelmed by the excitement of the children to see an English visitor and the warm welcome she received. She took as many resources as she could carry, provided by herself or kindly donated by Carleton Endowed C of E Primary School,  her local church and TeacherBoards.

Whilst at the school she visited each classroom introducing herself and explaining the link between the two schools. The children enjoyed a scrapbook she had made about her Carleton Endowed C of E School. She was able to share songs and activities throughout the visit as well as delivering the water topic to some of the older children.

Carleton Endowed C of E School and other Craven schools in the project are looking forward to the reciprocal visit in May, when 11 teachers from Sierra Leone will visit the region. Andrea and her colleagues are hopeful that when the DFID funding stops other fundraising schemes will allow the relationships they are developing to continue and give pupils in Craven and in Bo the chance share experiences and develop an understanding of topics that are increasing important to everyone in the world.

If you would like support the project please contact Andrea at Carleton Endowed C of E Primary School.

TeacherBoards are proud to announce that we will be taking part in this year’s Yorkshire Mafia Conference, 21 – 22 March, at the Royal Armouries, Leeds.

The Yorkshire Mafia is a growing force in the North. It provides a powerful opportunity for businesses to build relationships with each other, get inspired by UK business leaders and take part in professional development courses. It is their belief that “We are stronger together” and this can help make Yorkshire a more prosperous county.

“For TeacherBoards, the Yorkshire Mafia provides us with access to a truly supportive network. It is an ideal platform to share knowledge, talent and experience for the benefit of fellow members, be that online or in person at the many events that occur.”

Membership to the Yorkshire Mafia is based on LinkedIn profiles with applicants screened to ensure that the group represents a cross section of Yorkshire businesses. Since its inception in 2006, over 2000 individuals have joined participating in the annual YM conference, social events, training and fundraising.

This March the Yorkshire Mafia 2012 Conference rolls into town. Billed as the “biggest B2B conference in the North”, organisers are expecting 3000 delegates to visit during the two days.

TeacherBoards are excited to be one of 150 businesses exhibiting their products and services. Our stand will profile our new range of Interactive Whiteboards and we’ll be demonstrating the innovative ways they can be used by businesses and how they can add real value and measurable value to day-to-day work. We’ll also be promoting our full product range, running an exciting competition – visit the stand for details on the great prize on offer and how to enter – and offering an exclusive discount to visitors.

As Scott Grant, MD of TeacherBoards and ‘made’ Yorkshire Mafia member, explains, making contacts with like-minded local businesses in Yorkshire opens up far more opportunities than simply ‘selling products’:

“For TeacherBoards, the Yorkshire Mafia provides us with access to a truly supportive network.  It is an ideal platform to share knowledge, talent and experience for the benefit of fellow members, be that online or in person at the many events that occur. As a result, I’ve also met some great friends and colleagues along the way too.”

Delegates will get to tour the exhibition, listen to keynote speakers on such topics as Social Media, take part in Q & A sessions involving, amongst others, the Billion Pound Panel, and have the opportunity to network and begin to grow their own little black book of contacts. To be part of Yorkshire Mafia Conference 2012 visit the website and find out about how you can Pre Register.

Yorkshire Mafia Conference
21 – 22 March 2012
Royal Armouries Museum
Leeds

We’ve put together a handy sized mini catalogue that includes a fantastic 20% discount offer. Designed to showcase some of our best sellers and highlights the diverse range of products we sell, the catalogue is easy to follow and features product descriptions that make it easy for you to find the product you want.

If you’d like to be sent a copy of the catalogue and receive a unique online 20% discount code email us or speak to one of our sales team on 01756 700 501.