a. Seric Systems Ltd, Studio 2004, Abbey Mill Business Centre, Mile End Building, 12 Seedhill Road, Paisley, PA1 1JS.t. 0141 561 1161 e. info@seric.co.uk w. seric.co.uk tw. @sericsystems

SERIC: COMMUNITY

BRIEFAs part of Seric’as charitable works and Digital Participation policy we look for the opportunity to use our technical skills to help increase the digital skills of the nation and also to support charities.

Townhead Community centre was identified as an area where although computer courses where available, many people were not getting the best out of it due to the ratio of 1 lecturer to 20 students. Seric identified the opportunity to mobilise our volunteer network to provide one on one learning to supplement the computer courses.

SOLUTIONWith the support of Glasgow Housing Association and Glasgow Kelvin College a program of events were planned and delivered at the Townhead Community Centre to increase digital participation and digital skills in the area. At this new community centre, Glasgow Kelvin College has a suite of computers available to the public and provided courses, however it was identified that many people need extra one on one tuition that they were not receiving in a classroom environment and there was also a large percentage of the community that were not engaging with the program.

GETTING INVOLVEDSeric organised 6 days of one on one, one hour sessions to provide basic digital training to those that booked a slot and the community centre advertise the scheme to the local community. Training was based on each personal request and included

- Signing up to use the computers at the centre

- Attaching personal devices to the WiFi

- applying for jobs online (upload CVs)

- Taking a picture on a phone and emailing it

- Using Google maps to plan a holiday

In addition to these one on one sessions a technical drop in clinic was available where tasks like virus removal were undertaken on personal computers.

Using our extensive network of contacts, we were able to provide volunteers from

- Seric Systems

- IBM

- British Computer Society

- Glasgow Caledonia University Students

- Glasgow Caledonia University Lecturers

- Glasgow Kelvin College

Volunteers did not need in depth computing skills, simply to be able to use a computer themselves and had Serics own technical consultants available to help out with anything outside their comfort zone.

OUTCOMEThe feedback from those requesting a one-to-one sessions was very positive, with many coming back for a second session and we are planning on replicating similar sessions throughout the country.

Volunteers were rewarded with glowing references on LinkedIn or by email and we are in discussions with SQA about providing a nationally recognised award for a Digital Inclusion volunteer.

An online collaboration space has been provided to the volunteers to keep them informed on future events and to foster best practise, and innovation.

Volunteers did not need in depth computing skills, simply to be able to use a computer themselves and had Serics own technical consultants available to help out with anything outside their comfort zone.

DIGITALPARTICIPATIONTownhead Community Centre Glasgow

PREDICTIVEANALYTICS

STORAGE ANDINTEGRATED

SYSTEMS

DATAMANAGMENT

SOCIALBUSINESS AND

COLLABORATION

ITSECURITY