We worked in residential villages to educate learners!!

UDEVELOP HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONED FROM CHORLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL TO DELIVER A DIGITAL EXCLUSION PROGRAMME ACROSS CHORLEY BOROUGH AND UDEVELOP HAVE WORKED WITH 318 PEOPLE!!

UDevelop have been delivering programmes across the Chorley Borough for the last 6 years and have built up a lasting working partnership with the council to enhance peoples development skills and skills for employability. UDevelop got approached by the council to educate groups who would be classed as digitally excluded and take them on a computer and digital learning journey that would complement the libraries provision and enable groups to come out of their comfort zones and learn so that when they are back in their households they can complete everyday tasks online, such as knowing about the equipment, completing a word document, copy and pasting, sending an email, accessing your MYGP app for medical appointments and doing online shops.

UDevelop have travelled around the borough all of the different areas within Chorley Borough and worked with over 300 participants. Over the time we were delivering we found people were really interested in coming together because of the social aspect as well as the non-judgmental feelings that people have when they are sat in a very relaxed environment. All of our sessions have been delivered with an informal approach to allow the learners to feel at ease and be able to ask questions.

Some of our groups had found that they had entered a whole new world when they completed the course. They were extremely happy about being able to access services and opportunities online.

We worked well with some larger groups in local communities. This one especially in Brinscall. Hillside methodist church had a warm hub on a Friday and we worked well with the learners there after they had eaten their lunch.

Myself and the team have been extremely efficient and detailed with our delivery showing an empathetic approach. Being able to go above and beyond for learners so that they feel inclusive and can sustain their new skills back in their households.

The sessions included working with laptops, from Macbook air, HP and Lenovo and we worked with the participants with their equipment but if they didn’t have anything to work on we would supply them with our laptops.

Some of the people attending brought tablets which was great for the session because it helped people understand different pieces of equipment and their functions. Some might have even wanted to do the session on their phones because they wanted to learn more about using their phones.

Our delivery tasks varied for each person but most got to log on and create logins for the local Chorley Council website and were able to access their support services online. This was saving them time and effort than having to travel all the way to the head office in Chorley Town centre.

This specific group found friendship and managed to secure some fabulous links with other people within their group and then decided to go on walks and see each other more. From learning computers in a group to walking outside and being together. We managed to target reducing social isolation within certain areas and people warmed to each other.