12 August 2022
Online learning course celebrates major milestone
Online learning course celebrates major milestone
Work to support residents learn new skills and secure employment shows no sign of slowing down at Your Homes Newcastle.
More than 1,000 people have now completed the Online Basics course, delivered by Get Online Newcastle, a partnership programme between YHN and Newcastle City Council.
A special event was held at the City Library to mark the major milestone for the free essential digital skills course which launched in 2015.
YHN tenant Chengeto Machingura, 48, was the 1,000th person to successfully complete the course, which sees learners get to grips with using the internet and emails safely, while introducing them to digital services which will benefit them in their daily lives.
She said: “I was struggling with using new technology and everything I did seemed to be online.
“I had a really important application for a new opportunity and I was really disappointed to miss out so I was trying to find somewhere to do this course.
“It was really good, and I learned some new things which will help me in my every day life.
“I’m very happy to be the 1,000th learner and this tablet means I won’t have to share one with my son.”
Tina Drury, group managing director of Your Homes Newcastle, said: “Congratulations to Chengeto on being the 1,000th learner supported by this programme.
“We help as many residents as possible to gain confidence to get online safely and improve their lives. This is just one of several successful initiatives we run across Newcastle to support residents to gain skills and knowledge and help them achieve their goals.
“Courses like this have helped our residents improve their skills and go on to secure employment, and we are keen to continue that ongoing work.”
“It’s so great that these learners have learned so much on this course. It’s so important we help and support people to develop these skills, even the basics of how to stay safe online, ordering groceries or making a GP appointment.
“It’s also brilliant to see the one-to-one sessions being delivered as well as it helps people build their confidence and learn better.
“It’s also a chance for people to come together, meet people and make new friends.
“There are lots of positive spins to this course.”
Pam Smith, chief executive of Newcastle City Council, said: “What a fantastic achievement, and equipping our residents for the future. It’s so exciting.”
Cllr Alex Hay, Newcastle City Council Cabinet Member for a Resilient City, said: “Having the skills to engage with digital services has never been more important, but it can be easy to forget that not everyone has had the opportunities many of us take for granted to acquire these skills.
“We want everybody to have the chance to succeed in life and I’m delighted that so many people in Newcastle have benefited from Get Online Newcastle.
“What people learn here can help with all manner of tasks from applying for jobs, accessing online banking, and much more.”
Over seven years, 42 dedicated volunteers have been recruited and trained to support the deliver of 650 digital inclusion activities, giving a total of 5,500 man-hours into the project.
Support is also given to help volunteers progress into employment, with 12 going on to find a permanent job and two long-serving volunteers now being employed by YHN on the Get Online Newcastle team.
Investment has also helped the Get Online Newcastle team to grow, with a digital inclusion programme co-ordinator, one full-time member of staff and two part-time members of staff alongside the one full-time time and two part-time staff helping deliver the Online Basics courses.
Get Online Newcastle plans to continue to expand, recruiting more volunteers and working with more libraries, YHN Customer facing services and partners, to help reduce digital poverty and digital illiteracy in the North East.
For more visit www.newcastle.gov.uk/get-online-newcastle