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Never to late to wish everyone Happy New Year

It seems a while ago now, but before Christmas I popped into the Richmond Hill Community Centre, to take part in their GTT session.

I found an invaluable community resource helping people to brush up their digital skills, build confidence, meet others and participate in a learning environment.
People came along with different abilities and needs, yet it all seemed to work, and everyone got something from the session.

Volunteers provide one-to-one help

One person was in the process of learning to video call his overseas relatives using Skype. Another to navigate a new Smartphone and to use text messenger (SMS) for the very first time! More experienced users came along for help with specific issues.

While the session was led by an experienced facilitator what was also evident was the level of informal Peer Support. People with more experience were helping those with less. This is great as it can be empowering for both the learner and the helper.

Feel free to come along to the new drop-in sessions starting running every Monday from 11am to 1pm. Everyone is welcome at the Richmond Hill Community Centre, Long Close Lane, Leeds, LS9 8NP

Article written by GTT Volunteer, Vicky.
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Drighlington Digital

The Digital Access Point at Drighlington now enters its enter it’s second year. This year offering technology life skills sessions each week alongside the Digital Access Point. The project has been very popular. GTT is now partnering up with the Drighlington Methodist Church to launch 2 new projects “Staying Well at Winter” and “Stepping Out” both of these project aim to help the local community by bring people together to meet socialise and learn a bit more about how to get the best out of their technology in a friendly comfortable community space.

Anyone can drop-in and bring their own devices or use our laptops to access the free WiFi on site. The Coffee Pot Café is always open when the sessions are running and many people stay afterwards to join in the games session which include cards, darts, table tennis and a quiz every week.

The project has just launched its Drighlington Digital Facebook Page  and you can visit and post messages.

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2018-2019 a Very Successful Year at Northfield Community Center

Today GTT and Northfield Community celebrate a very successful Year, helping the Community Center user to be more confident with their Technology.

A year in which, we have been able to impart Technological and practical knowledge to the community users, to help the connect, communicate and safe money online.

From the Northfield Community Center, we would like to say a big thank you to all who helped and contributed for this project to become a reality.

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David masters his Apple Mac at Leodis Grid

David, a regular attendee at the weekly drop-in, gave me a big smile, as we started chatting.  He’s been attending the weekly computer sessions at the Lincoln Green Community Centre for around six months.

He came along to the sessions for help to ‘get to know’ his new Apple Mac laptop.  Having previously owned an older Apple computer, he thought it would be similar, but told me “they are as different as me and you!”

He warmly credits the tutors at the centre for their help and tuition. He now feels much more skilled and confident in using his laptop.

He mainly uses it for photography, to edit and save photographs, which is his life-long hobby.  He began taking photos as a teenager with a Box Camera, which had only eight exposures on a film!  He likens this older technology to a Mini whereas, he says, “digital photography is a Rolls Royce.”  In the past he was employed as a wedding photographer. He also enjoyed taking pictures of stamps but says this activity belongs to a bygone era, people aren’t as interested in stamps anymore.   Now his favourite subjects are landscapes, flowers and insects.

Another compelling reason for David to attend the sessions is the sense of community at the centre.  He tells me that it’s a welcoming atmosphere where he’s made friendly acquaintances, is greeted with a cup of tea as soon as he arrives and buys a cheap lunchtime meal.

 

 

David_Work
One of David’s beautiful photographs of Roundhay Park, showing beautiful reflections in the lake,  Thank you David.

 

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Giving my old computer some TLC at GTT

“Giving my old computer some TLC” by GTT Volunteer, Vicky.

“With the help of the GTT Lab, I took apart my old computer, retrieved valued photographs and restored it to health!

It had laid abandoned behind the sofa for years – an old desktop with an outdated edition of Windows, gathering dust.

I was helped to repair it myself, this included unscrewing the back, blowing out the dust and ensuring things were able to work. It was the first time I’d ever looked inside a computer and there was a lot of dust in mine! “

Picture inside old dusty computer
Vicky’s old dusty computer

 

“Not only did I repair it, but I came away being able to identify the major parts inside and feeling like I’d learnt something. I truly believe that learning new things is so important for our wellbeing and confidence – at any age. I love the inclusive nature of GTT and their belief that anyone can learn with the right support.

My next mission is to update the operating system – with help of course.

Watch this space!! “

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