Digital training course continues to be a success

Seven customers on the Working Homes Programme took part in the eight-week Working Homes Tablet Course to learn about using a tablet, websites and more.

At the end of it all, they received a certificate and were able to keep their tablet with a six-month SIM card included to continue their digital journey.

During the course, they learned about emails, using the internet safely, keeping safe online, financial awareness, an introduction to NCC and YHN websites, using their online accounts and more.

As well as the training, the courses encourage participants to get to know each other, especially those who have been socially isolated or struggling with their finances or mental health.

And those who celebrated competing the course on Tuesday at Newcastle’s City Library were delighted with the skills they had learned and mental health support – with one being offered a job on the back of it.

John Ainsworth, 39, had been out of work for 17 years due to personal problems, but thanks to the course was able to boost his confidence and has been offered a job as a result.

He said: “This course has brought me out of my shell. I’ve met such a great group of people here.

“The staff have been phenomenal, friendly, and dead helpful. I’ve got nothing but praise for the staff, for everything they’ve done for me.

“I’ve been out of work for 17 years so it was about getting back into being with a group of people again, sticking to a structure and routine, a timetable and work.

“I went for my job interview today (Tuesday) and got offered the job straight away, and it was all thanks to this course.

“If it wasn’t for this course, I wouldn’t have gone for this interview. My confidence wouldn’t have been up there like it was.

“I would recommend this course to anyone who is trying to find themselves again or wants to learn computers and IT.

“I’ve got nothing but praise for the staff and the volunteers. Their input has been great, making it so genuine and easy going. It has been really good.”

Another who has praised the course was David Dobson, 44, who has now secured a volunteering role with YHN.

He said: “I went to improve my computer skills as I hadn’t done anything with them for over 20 years.

“Once on the course, everything came back to me but there were some new things as well that I was able to learn. It was great being able to do the course. It taught me things I wouldn’t have known.

“I’m unemployed, I’ve never worked and got taken off the sick four years ago. This was a stepping stone to helping me.

“I haven’t got any experience of the workplace so volunteering was a way to interact with people and help me come out of my shell a bit more.

“I’d definitely recommend this course to others. I’ve just started another course by YHN.”

Another who completed the course was Nickie Dickinson. She said: “I needed to get something more onto my CV.

“I didn’t have any other qualifications and had used computers but thought it would be good to learn how to use a tablet.

“It was something different to what I would have done. I think people will benefit a lot through this course.

“I would absolutely recommend this course whether it is a beginner or intermediate, you will get something out of it.”

Stuart Clarke, senior manager for employability at YHN, said: “It demonstrates the really close link between employment skills and digital skills. They work hand in hand together.

“Improving people’s chances of getting a job is more than how to interview well or what their CV looks like, it’s about their IT and personal skills and that’s what this course is about.”

Phil Hodgson, employability officer at Working Homes, said: “It’s a great opportunity for us.

“It’s helping people with the larger goal of developing skills but also to get them out of the house, meet new people and building confidence while learning new skills. It opens up new opportunities.

“We hope to have another course later in the year.”