Showing residents a whole new world through digital inclusion
Newport Housing Trust have funded a total of 26 residents since 2008 to implement an over 60s computer project delivered by E-Inclusion Recycling. Each tenant selected for the project has been given a reconditioned computer with one to one training from basic IT skills to using the Internet and Skype.
As well as learning new skills, the aim of the project was and is, to get residents more involved within their community and make new friends. Many of the residents that have been involved in the project now have regular contact with friends and family abroad via Skype and email.
Paula Thornton, Head of Corporate Services says ‘We are very pleased with the interest shown from our tenants in taking part in the IT project, and the significant impact it has had on our tenants’ lives.’
Joan Rees, 78, took part in the project at the Gaer Community Centre, in 2008-09. Introduced to the project by a friend, Joan did not even know how to switch a computer on; she hasn’t looked back since, learning skills such as banking and shopping online, learning how to use Photoshop to edit her pictures and she frequently emails her friends and family who live in Australia.
Joan Rees, 78 says, ‘The project changed my life, I met lots of new people, made new friends and I am now much happier. I would definitely recommend this project to other tenants; you can surprise your children like I did!’
Since the project, Joan has been volunteering at the E-Inclusion offices where she has been making jewellery out of old computer parts and has just started teaching another tenant how to make the jewellery.
Newport Housing Trust has recently set up a computer club to engage residents, enhance their IT knowledge and provide ongoing support once their training with E-Inclusion has ended.
Newport Housing Trust plans to continue funding this training in 2011 with another IT project for our tenants.
For more information about this project, please call Carolyn Pearse on 01633 261990.