September 2008 saw the start of a new chapter in the Pompey Study Centre story with the launch of a state-of-the-art facility opposite the new Pompey Megastore, following a £50,000 grant from the People's Million. Up to 400 youngsters a week are expected to pass through the centre's doors.
One of the common elements of all centre initiatives is an intensive need for printed output, invariably in significant volumes. In fact, the centre estimates that its activities typically generate anything up to 30,000 colour sheets every month. Just taking the Double Club as one example, the scale of the requirement becomes clear.
"We have 16 schools in Portsmouth that host the Double Club and we have to produce four hours of resources a week for each of them," says centre manager, Clare Martin. "In addition, we have 12 schools each term that host Double Club Youth Teams, the Primary School equivalent, and we need to deliver an hour's resources every week for each of those also. It is also a vital part of the Study Centre experience that visiting pupils have the opportunity to take away a colour printed copy of their work to share with others back at school or at home".
"This is just one learning initiative we manage out of many that require intensive printing resource," Clare explained. "We also handle printing for local schools and for the football club itself. It is not hard to see how our printing needs quickly mount up!"
Clare added: "We were quick to establish an excellent two-way working relationship with OKI. Over the past four years, OKI's support has become fully embedded throughout the Centre's activities. To have a club sponsor that is accessible, listens and responds quickly has been a major benefit. We have been able to pick up the phone whenever we have needed them and they have never let us down."
A new kind of magic
OKI is firmly focused on providing the centre with the capability to undertake highly innovative education projects incorporating printing. One way it does this is by introducing the centre to creative reseller partners like The Magic Touch.
Clare is positive about the benefits that this has brought: "The combination of The Magic Touch full colour image transfer paper and heat presses with the OKI printers gives us great visibility, enabling us to print ‘anything on anything' including shirts, caps and bags for example," she said. "It is a great way of personalising merchandise. Guests at a recent event were even able to use the technology to create souvenir mugs including an image of them with the FA Cup."
Making the most of printing
To help the centre manage its ongoing, urgent need for printing, it now has two large format C9650 devices from OKI, the second of which is installed as part of the EduPrint system - an innovative resource for pupils that gives them the chance to learn through creative printing. Recently the centre acquired a third OKI device when it was presented with a limited edition Pompey Blue printer by one of the Portsmouth players as part of the Respect Pompey campaign. This printer - an OKI C3450 - has been signed by the first team and has established itself as a favourite of the centre's pupils.
"Having access to high-quality printers has helped us to free up the creativity of the children," said Claire. "We aim to inject a sense of fun in the activities and the use of colourful designs helps us do this. At the centre, we give children the opportunity to print in colour and then take their output straight home. It gives them a sense of pride in their work.
"Working with OKI also allows us to make the most creative use possible of all the different media. Just as one example, we are currently using reward stickers which thanks to the OKI printers can be personalised to one of the stars of the Portsmouth team. Previously, we would have just bought generic stickers which would have meant much less to the children."
Taking the initiative
In addition to the day-to-day programmes, OKI and its printers have also played a key role in a broad range of special initiatives some organised and run by the Pompey Study Centre along with some broader industry activities. The EduPrint initiative fits clearly into the latter category. In line with OKI's unique ‘Look What You Can Do' messaging tagline, pupils and students can use EduPrint to help bring standard curriculum coursework and projects to life with high-quality colour printouts.
The OKI printers also played a key role in the centre's recent Kick Start Health initiative. OKI donated toner and consumables to enable the Centre to print out Portsmouth FC branded healthy eating and exercise resource packs. With OKI's help, the Centre was able to rapidly produce over 90 copies of the packs for distribution to schools throughout the city.
Positive prospects
Summing up the benefits of the partnership, Clare concludes: "It has allowed us to be much more versatile. Now if any department or any school asks us to print anything we can almost always do so.
"The partnership has also raised our profile with the club, helping to demonstrate the range and quality of the work we have been involved with over recent years and to showcase the achievements of students," Clare continues. "And OKI has also provided key support for us at a range of events such as the launch of our new facility in 2008 and a recent high-profile visit of Japanese journalists."
