Helping people access IT

Posted on Friday, October 21st, 2011 at 10:08 am
Categories: News, Tenant Participation
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Where would you be without access to the internet?

It’s estimated that 30% of people in Wales are digitally excluded, having no access to a home computer, broadband, and do not know how to use the facilities generally available.

Charter encourages tenants to make the most of the internet, and this year Digital Inclusion Officer Louise Kingdon has helped tenants improve their IT skills through workshops and individual sessions. Our partnership group, the Forward Together Panel (FTP), has taken full advantage of these and has already felt the benefits.

FTP member Paul McNab has enjoyed several Charter IT courses with Louise and Tenant Participation Manager Kelly Major and says his new skills have helped him make a surprising connection.

“This weekend I met up with someone I was able to contact via Friends Reunited and Facebook,” said Paul, who lives in Monmouthshire.

“We started Infants together 50 years ago and lost contact over 40 years ago! Strangely, I trained alongside her husband without knowing it when I was a psychiatric nurse in Bristol 30 years ago. We had the most enjoyable day yesterday and will be exchanging visits on a regular basis. So, a big thank you to Louise and Kelly for opening up a whole new world for me!”

Want to learn more about IT? Call Louise on 01633 678514 or email her on louise.kingdon@charterhousing.co.uk