Housing Trust scoops prestigious digital inclusion award

Published by Laura Beckett for Halton Housing Trust in Housing and also in Communities, Education

Halton Housing Trust has been recognised for its hard work in helping people get online after winning a national award.

Beating off hundreds of entries from around the UK, the Trust won the Spring Online Best Event Award 2012, receiving a certificate, £100 and two free IT courses, presented by Esther Rantzen at a ceremony in London last week.

Michelle Phillips, customer involvement officer, leads on digital inclusion at the Trust and attended the ceremony in London last week. She said: “The Trust is thrilled to win this award and we plan to continue to help more of our customers get online and become computer savvy.”

“72% of jobs require people to have IT skills and most jobs can only be applied for online, so knowing how to use a computer and the internet is becoming increasingly important.”

In April 2012 the Trust held a series of events throughout Spring Online and Silver Surfers Week, with the aim of helping people of all ages to use a computer. As well as school children helping older people learn how to use a computer and the internet, one person took a trip down memory lane to find their old home on Google Maps, whilst others searched for jobs and found the best online shopping deals.

Leading from its success in April, the Trust is holding two events this month as part UK Online Centres Get Online Week 2012. Aiming to help customers find jobs, apply for benefits and search for accommodation online, the informative sessions will run on the following days:

- Monday 15^th October at Queens Close, Runcorn, from 1.30 - 4.30pm

- Friday 19^th October at Quarry Court, Widnes, from 1.30 - 4.30pm

For further information about the events, please call Michelle Phillips on 0151 510 5184 or email michelle.phillips@haltonhousing.org.