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Herring House Trust

Uses of laptops

Weekly computer workshops based at the hostel for hostel, half-way house and those clients living independently in the community. During these sessions laptop users have familiarised themselves with the Inter-net, used Encarta and the Design a House and the In House and In Health software. Introductory tuition in the basic use of the computer is a regular feature of the workshop.

Tuition can be give on a one to one basis for clients using the resettlement service. To date the touch-type package has been used, formal letters and c.v.'s written and photos scanned.

The Resettlement team run a weekly drop-in service in the town for those clients on the point of resettlement and those who have moved on to half-way houses or independent accommodation. The lap-tops have become a regular provision of this service.

Recently, the Trust has held an exhibition in the town of artwork produced by clients. The laptops were used to scan photographs onto the invitations for the launch of the exhibition and to enlarge photographs taken for exhibiting purposes. In addition we utilised their provision to relay a musical composition, written by a trust client, as background music.

Opportunities given

One of the most positive aspects of having in-house provision is the chance it offers clients to access a, sometimes, unfamiliar resource in a familiar surrounding. Often individuals have had no contact with computers of any kind and would not be comfortable in following more traditional routes. The lap-tops provide a chance to use a new medium of expression and the trigger for further learning.

Due to re-location within the organisation we had a slow start with promoting the existence of the lap-tops which has had an effect on our six-monthly figures. As the population of those using our organisation tends to be a transitory one the number of learners is likely to be less than that of a more static group. We do, however, feel that those who have been able to use the facility have gained in knowledge, confidence and ability.

Staff development

Three members of the resettlement team have become proficient in the use of the lap-tops to the extent that they can assist clients. One staff member in particular, who attended the briefing session in July, has particular responsibility for tuition and expanding her own training. We have received our on-line disks, a community tutor has been appointed and self-assessment completed. To complement this programme a staff member has this week received literature to enrol on a local course for teaching basic skills. In addition we will be taking advantage of the courses on offer in Chester and Cambridge.

Finally, our hostel administrator has set aside time each week for the purpose of training hostel staff on lap-top use.

Problems

As mentioned earlier our main problems have been those encountered within the organisation.

Shortly after receiving the lap-tops the resettlement team were unexpectedly re-located out of the hostel building to an office elsewhere in the town. This created a certain amount of chaos, which took a few weeks to rectify. Because of insurance purposes we have had to house one lap-top in

the hostel, causing training programmes and learning activities to be restructured. This is, however, now in place and accessible.

The only problem we have encountered is that the Basic Skills on-line tuition would probably benefit from either the trainer having some prior knowledge of teaching basic skills off-line or could attend a complementary course.

Future Proposals

To build up a more extensive resource base of literature and software for basic skills tuition. To hold weekly workshops at our drop-in service. To design work-sheets specifically aimed at working towards independent living skills.

Case Study

My name is Samuel Bancroft, I am 21 years old and I have been involved with the use of a laptop via Herring House Trust. In this report I will attempt to set down the benefits I believe I have gained from being able to use the laptop and some of the things I have used them to accomplish.

I believe the main psychological advantage I gained from being able to use them is the fact that I felt a part of something which was important and productive which helped to boost my self esteem. Secondly I was able to represent others in my situation (being homeless). I was able to do this via an art exhibition in which all of the work was made by clients of Herring House Trust. One piece of work was a mosaic of a herring created by several residents in their hostel, which I was able to photograph, scan into the computer, manipulate and then use as a motif for the exhibition. I then created flyers and invites using this motif. Using this same motif I was able to create a letterhead for Herring House Trust which they may use as their new logo.

In the process of creating this work on the computer I found the laptops especially versatile because they are so portable and lightweight which enabled me to work in places that would not normally be considered an office environment.

Every week the Trust has a drop in centre where the laptop is available for visitors to use which allowed people who would never normally come into contact with computers to experience them first hand and have a go at using them. It also gave me the opportunity to try and get others interested in the new technology and to try and help them. Several people who in their own words "don't understand" computers where persuaded to sit down and have a go which showed them that computers don't bite and are actually quite user friendly.

I myself have had computer experience previously but many years ago when they were not quite what they are now. Using the laptop I was able for the first time to use the internet which was a very beneficial experience because now I am confident with it and feel that it is another skill which I have learnt.

I am grateful for the chances I have given because without the help of others these things would be well outside my own means to learn and use. I have also used other hardware attached to the portable such as scanners and printers as well as various software.

Having this technology in my reach allowed me to take my passion for photography a little bit further because I now found that I could take photographs, scan them into the computer and use them to create numerous things. One example of this is the Christmas cards I created for Herring House Trust. I did this by scanning in a picture, creating a design around the edge of the card, writing in some text and then printing it out and folding them in half. This gave me pride because it was nice to see the end result.

Because of the availability of the laptop, which gave me the chance to get involved in the art exhibition I attended the exhibition and got to meet and express my views to several people of importance including the Lord Mayor of Norwich and Caroline Oldrey a T.V. presenter for Anglia Television. This gave me a sense of pride because I felt as though I was representing other people in the same situation as myself.

In conclusion I would say that the availability of these laptops opened many new doors for me which has helped to give me a sense of direction and worth, even though I am homeless.

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