On 26 November, twelve residents from Park Lodge, a Springboard sheltered housing scheme in Bilericay, took part in a Christmas-themed computer workshop with tutors from Essex UnITe, in partnership with Genesis Community. Springboard and Genesis Community are part of Genesis Housing Group.

Partners in this Essex UnITe project aim to engage older people in digital inclusion. The partnership includes Millrace IT, Essex County Council, Genesis Community, Chelmer Housing, Age Concern and Help the Aged.

Residents enjoyed half-day workshops and learned how to scan photographs and use Microsoft publisher to create personal Christmas cards and a 2010 calendar.

These workshops follow on from an initial eight week training programme held in Summer 2007 at Park Lodge, Billericay. Two computers and a printer have been installed in the communal lounge, by the Essex UnITe project, with free internet connection provided for the next two years at least.

In August this year, the Essex UnITe partners successfully secured over £400K funding from the Big Lottery to continue the project for another two years. This will provide Park Lodge residents with free refresher courses and advance training in the New Year.

Kathleen Wood, 81, took part in the workshop and found it interesting and useful. She said “I have been looking for cards with a nativity scene and could not find any I liked. Then we had this workshop and I was able to look at lots of different pictures on the internet and found the perfect picture. I was shown how to resize it onto my card and print it out. I think it is a wonderful idea!”

Polly Boardman from Genesis Community thinks it is important for the residents to play an active part in the consultation of the project. She said “I visited Park Lodge a few weeks ago and spoke to residents about their needs and the skills they’d like to improve. Most wanted a refresher class and expressed an interest in tracing their family trees. I think it works best when you ask the residents what they want and can tailor the activities to suit them. That is the great thing about Essex UnITe – it all focuses on the user.”

Park Lodge will not be the only Springboard scheme benefiting from the workshops and training. Sixteen other schemes across Essex have had computer equipment installed and will benefit from computer training next year, as well as one-off workshops like ‘Christmas UnITe’.

Essex UnITe hopes to engage with over 8,000 older people by August 2011 and will be holding community workshops and roadshows across the county over the next two years.

Photo caption: Kathleen Wood, aged 81

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For further information about Genesis Housing Group, or Essex UnITe, please contact Diana Evans on 020 7563 0028 / email diana.evans@ghg.org.uk

Notes to editors

Genesis Housing Group provides homes and services to tens of thousands of people across London and the south east. The Group consists of PCHA, Pathmeads and Springboard housing associations. It also has a charitable foundation, Genesis Community, and is one of the largest and most diverse housing groups in the UK. Genesis Housing Group owns and/or manages more than 40,000 homes across London and the south east. Its overiding aim is to put customers first and provide excellent service to all.

Springboard joined Genesis Housing Group in April 2005 and currently supports more than 5,000 households in 24 local authority areas across London, Essex and Hertfordshire. In addition to general needs housing, shared ownership and leasehold properties, Springboard specialises in supported housing for older people and those with special needs.