MONITOR
Computer and Social Media
Lessons for Seniors
S
udbury Neighbourhood Centre is a
safe place where disabled, elderly,
frail and lonely people, living in
deprived communities in North London,
can meet, be cared for, and enjoy some
company. The Centre also carries out
valuable work with older people living with
dementia, as well as enabling some
respite to families who are providing care
at home. WCIT Charity granted £4,300
per annum for two years to provide ICT
courses within the centre.
Jon Marsh, Trust Fundraiser, stated
“I am delighted to say that this
funding has been a complete success”.
In the two years that WCIT have funded
this project, they have expanded the
number of courses from two lessons per
week to seven, with classes now
available each day during the working
week. The number of people assisted has
risen from 40 per year (around 30
students at any one time) to over 60,
improving their lives by building skills,
reducing isolation, and enhancing
wellbeing.
Jon continues “The reason the WCIT
funding has been so important in
achieving this is because the two year
grant has underpinned the service at a
crucial time and allowed us to focus on
developing the work without having to
worry about continuously finding money
just to keep it going.
I am delighted to say that further funding
has already been gained for the next
year. We are also developing plans to
improve the learning environments by
creating a specific training room for this
programme. The future is therefore bright
for the project.”
Some examples of where they have been
able to help clients includes:
One lady struggled to access welfare
benefits as so much of this is now
carried out online. She learnt to write
letters, email and use online systems,
which has reduced her level of
poverty. Like many clients (who can
be very depressed) she also enjoys a
cup of tea and a chat, so staff make
time for her just to talk.
One elderly gentleman had mobility
#
problems and was particularly worried
about shopping in winter. The team
techmums was created as a direct response to the noticeable
lack of female representation in the Technology Industry,
which still only sits at 17% in 2017. They train women in key
areas including; tech skills, the Cloud, digital safety and coding to
allow them to enter a new career path and gain confidence regarding
returning to employment or setting up their own businesses.
Evaluations of their programmes has found that not only do
graduates evidence increased confidence in their ability to use
technology, but also that there is significant increase in their overall
confidence and aspirations for their own and their family’s futures.
WCIT Charity granted £10,000 towards this programme in 2018 and
#techmums have since been busy developing content for their Digital
Skills course, expanding the course from five to ten weeks. They
have used the funding to develop the course and outreach to partners
to host #techmums Digital Skills Clubs nationally.
Each #techmums Club will run for two hours, every week, with up to
20 mums at each session. They have launched their new partnership
with Hyde Housing, who have recently trained ten of their amazing
staff to be #techmums facilitators. This cohort are now #techmums
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therefore taught him to access online
shopping and other services, and
have improved his safety.
Many elderly people live far away from
their families and can be desperately
lonely. Clients learnt Facetime so they
can keep in contact with friends and
family, thus reducing isolation.
Many older people have equipment
purchased for them by younger
relatives. The centre provides tuition
in this and also adapts equipment for
people with learning difficulties.
Some clients have dementia and are
losing their memories. The centre’s
learning style is constantly to repeat
tasks, which has had the side benefit
of improving their overall cognition.
Thank you.
ambassadors, who are facilitating the Digital Skills Club in
Stockwell, London, which launched in January 2019.
“This partnership would not have been possible without the
funding from WCIT. Thank you. We will continue to keep
you updated on our progress and our work with mums in
2019 and the launching of more #techmums Clubs nationally.”
Isabel Chapman, Head of Operations, #techmums.