WCIT CHARITY REVIEW
THAMES REACH
09
Over 1,200 i-Reach digital training places filled
by service users in 2017
Supporting
people to build
confidence,
social networks
and the skills
they need to
move forwards
in their lives
Thames Reach is one of the UK’s leading
homelessness charities. Its mission is to
assist homeless and vulnerable men and
women, and to stop vulnerable people from
becoming homeless. Janet had no computer at home, so continued
to attend i-Reach to practise for her exams.
Thames Reach worked with SocialBox.biz
who donated a reconditioned laptop, and she
enrolled on a further online NVQ course.
Janet came to The Employment Academy at
Thames Reach seeking to improve her job
prospects. She worked part-time as a kitchen
assistant on minimum wage at a school
based over an hour away on public transport.
The catering contract at her school had
recently been taken over by a new company,
which was trying to reduce her hours and
was creating a hostile work environment. She has now found a better role within the
catering industry, with improved hours and
earnings. “I would encourage anyone to learn to
use a computer. I found it hard work, especially
the exams, but it was really worth it.”
Janet joined i-Reach, a Digital Skills initiative
at Thames Reach funded by WCIT, to
improve her digital skills and support her job
search. She had been reluctant to join
i-Reach, saying “I hate computers, but don’t
know how I can find another job without
learning how to use them.” Her dyslexia had
given her negative experiences of studying:
“People think I’m stupid. I’m not, but it just
takes me longer to learn things.” As her
digital skills improved, her confidence grew,
and she enrolled on the 16-week EL3 Digital
Skills evening course that City Lit run at The
Employment Academy.
Thames Reach has
repeatedly proven the
importance of
technology training
for its service users
Janet loves her new role and feels optimistic
about the future. “Learning to use a
computer has really changed my life. If my
experiences can help encourage someone
else then that’s great.”
Catherine Parsons, Area Director, said
“Thames Reach is delighted at the ongoing
success of i-Reach in supporting people to
build confidence, social networks and the
skills they need to move forwards in their
lives. We are grateful to the ongoing support
of WCIT in enabling us to reach out to people
who are often excluded.”