Riversmead’s Bircherley Court residents ‘get online’ thanks to internet training

Published by SRedford for Network Housing Group Limited in Housing and also in Communities

Residents at Riversmead Housing Association’s Bircherley Court in Hertford are being helped to ‘get online’ through a series of training sessions over the next six weeks.

Luke Johnston’s grandparents live at Priory Court, part of the flexicare housing scheme, and are always asking him questions about using their computer. Luke kindly volunteered to teach them, and other residents, the basics of information technology.

The training will take place every Thursday for two hours across the next six weeks, using the computers in the communal atrium at Bircherley Court.

Resident Donald Allun, said: “I’m attending the training to challenge myself and to try and keep up with the younger generation!”

Sessions will focus on using a mouse, navigating the internet, sending emails and visiting social media sites to enable residents to carry out tasks including online banking, shopping, finding out the latest news and communicating with friends, family, Riversmead staff and other organisations.

Seven residents attended the first session including Irene Gardner, who said: “I do my Waitrose food shop online and also keep in contact with friends via email. My husband and I type business letters using our computer and I wanted to find out how to do tasks like copy and paste.”

Annie Vaughan, Flexicare Manager at the scheme said: “The computer facilities here are a great resource for residents and it’s nice to see them being used regularly. I want to thank Luke for giving up his time to show residents what they can achieve with some basic computer knowledge.”

www.riversmead.org.uk

A memebr of Network Housing Group - www.networkhg.org.uk