A NEW store in the Oak Mall is bringing the fascinating past of Inverclyde to life — and it’s proving a big hit with shoppers.

The Poppins shop is providing a comprehensive gaze into history through technology and specially trained staff.

Its very own iPlayer — The Inverclyde Player — has a unique collection of more than 300 clips using the Scottish Film Archive, BBC and ITN, and lets users relive special moments and search through great footage from film and television.

It’s all free of charge, with users ‘paying’ for services using a Poppins coin.

These can be collected from a total of 22 shops in Inverclyde that have the virtual currency to hand out to their customers.

Kay Hutchison, one of the key figures behind the project, said: “They are told what Poppins is all about and are given the plastic token.

“They can bring it here and exchange it for lots of different things — to see a talk, to get iPad training or to watch footage from the unique portal.

“The portal is an amazing collection of 300 clips. We’ve had great help from local partners who have given us material that we can use for it.

“People have been bringing in all kinds of things — photos of themselves as children, artefacts, and we’ve even had a collection of antique model cars.

“We are offering people the chance to host show-and-tell sessions and maybe talk about their own life. Poppins has multi-generational appeal and is particularly welcoming to the over 50s.

“More and more people are coming here — word is getting out.” The virtual currency is designed to develop relationships between companies in Inverclyde and their older customers.

The Poppins shop is especially helpful to senior citizens keen to get online and try social media such as Facebook, Skype and Twitter using smartphones, tablets and laptops.

The project is part of The Long Term Care Revolution initiative which aims to tackle challenges created by an ageing population, and is run by Belle Media for the Technology Strategy Board, the UK’s Innovation Agency.

The Poppins shop is open until 31 August.

‘I feel more confident’ GREENOCK man Robert McMillan is just one of many people sharpening their online skills at the Poppins shop in the Oak Mall.

Since it opened last month, the 75-year-old has been one of its most frequent visitors.

He has struck-up a special relationship with staff such as Claire Bryceland, who has helped him master touch-screen technology.

Robert, of Corlic Street, said: “I’ve been coming here since it opened last month and Claire has shown me how to operate the computer.

“I feel more confident. It’s interesting — there’s so much history and I’ve learned about subjects from whisky to the Erskine Bridge.

“My daughter tried to teach me on the computer before, but I struggled.” He laughed: “I think because an outsider is teaching me I can’t shout at her!” He demonstrates his skill on the comprehensive online archive by scrolling through and selecting footage of Burt Bacharach performing ‘24 Hours From Tulsa’.

Project worker Claire, 25, said: “Bobby’s been here from the start.

“He knew little about the technology before but now can look at the archives on the touch-screen computers “The project has been well received in Greenock and it’s been amazing to hear people’s stories.

“The aim of Poppins includes bringing people into the mall, the social side of it and, of course, the technology.

“I could leave now knowing the project has already been a success.”