“This training is what I needed.” Free digital skills sessions are helping local people get online and develop their know-how

Free training, made possible by National Lottery Heritage Funding, is helping local people get online and develop digital skills based on their current needs. Get involved!

The sessions, held at Barker St community centre in Coldhurst and led by our team, are open to people from the Oldham borough at all levels of ability – from complete beginners who haven’t started their digital journey but want to get online, to those who need to build their confidence and skills, and individuals who want to take their next step with website development and management.

Charlie is among those taking part and says the training has given him a boost:

“When I came here, I was really starting from scratch. I could go to the library and look things up when I needed to, but up until a few weeks ago I didn’t have an email address. Now I can send emails and add attachments, which is great for me.

“Before I was feeling a bit left behind. Whenever you go in a shop, they want to email you your receipt, you know. Now I feel more confident.

“This training is what I needed. I’m going at my own pace, doing it a bit at a time and I’m coming on.”

For others, the training is a chance to develop their digital know-how and pick up practical tips – like Kath, who has been attending the training sessions since October.

She says: “I use a smartphone and a laptop, but I wanted to learn how to do more everyday tasks online - like using QR codes to find more information, paying for items with my phone and saving favourite web pages.

“Each week I bring a list of things that I’ve got stuck on or wondered about, and Dan shows me what to do on my phone or laptop. It’s great.

“I’ve even been able to find an old video of when I was interviewed by the BBC back in the 1980s, which is really nice for me to be able to keep.

“I’m learning lots so to anyone thinking about getting involved in the training, I say do it.”

The digital skills training is part of a local history project called The Towers: A history of Summervale and Crossbank.

The name references the 1970s ageing tower blocks that we demolished earlier this year.

On the vacated site, we are now bringing forward our exemplar West Vale affordable housing development. We are also investing in existing local homes and carrying out a range of environmental improvements as the new-build scheme progresses.

Danny Isherwood, our Project and Partnership Officer said:

“Our development to build more new affordable homes in the place where Crossbank House and Summervale House stood is moving forward, but we don’t want to forget the history and people that have made this such a vibrant neighbourhood.

“Community development and digital inclusion are central to The Towers project. The first phase of the project was about building an archive of stories about life in the area. Now we’re developing the digital skills of local people, whatever their previous experience.

“The course is linked to the history of the tower blocks and Coldhurst, but the content is based around what people want to learn. There is something for everyone who wants to get involved, so if you’re interested in joining in, please get in touch.”

The Towers: A history of Summervale and Crossbank project is being jointly led by us together with community group OL1, Oldham Council, Oldham Coliseum and Geeks for Social Change.

The partners received £54,685 funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and National Lottery, distributed by the Heritage Fund UK as part of their Digital Skills for Heritage initiative.

Get involved

For more details and to register your interest in the digital skills training, please email our Stronger Communities team at ci@fcho.co.uk.