Volunteer graduates to Full Time employment in IT role
Summary
EverybodyOnline Volunteer Pippa first got involved with the EverybodyOnline Gorgie Dalry when she participated in one of the courses to improve her IT skills. After attending further sessions and gaining qualifications, Pippa then volunteered as a Web Guide. Now Pippa has a full time IT training post within the NHS and gives thanks to the opportunities that EverybodyOnline gave her, after being unemployed for over two years.
What happened?
Pippa first got involved with EverybodyOnline when she participated in the project’s ‘Trained Up’ programme, an eight week course which offers students the chance to gain a Microsoft Office Specialist certification in Word and Excel.
After gaining this qualification she then attended the project’s four day ‘Train the Trainer’ course that provides one to one coaching skills with regard to training computing novices; and teaches the best-practice model of delivering training in line with the National Scottish Qualifications Authority Standards. It was here that she began to work with learners in a variety of settings; including working intensively with five people from the Richmond Fellowship, all of whom are dealing with a range of mental health difficulties in some way. Following this Pippa helped to deliver a variety of group sessions at Fountainbridge Library, working with a range of skill levels from absolute beginner to intermediate learners.
Becoming more confident and enjoying working with computers and the internet, Pippa then volunteered to become a Trained-Up Web Guide; helping computer and internet novices to get started using the internet. These training delivery experiences combined with her new qualifications gave her the recent work experience and skills in both computing and training practice, helping her to secure an IT training post within the NHS, after over two years of being unemployed.
On her experiences with EverybodyOnline, Pippa commented, “I have been able to consolidate my skills in training, and in computing, in a way which has helped me to get back into work. “
Key Achievements
• Pippa achieved the Microsoft Office Specialist Word and Excel accredited units, a qualification recognised by employers
• Pippa progressed to achieve a certificate in training skills, focussing particularly on one to one coaching skills
• Pippa has gained confidence in putting her training into practice, before gaining employment, by working on a one to one basis with internet beginners
• She has gained experience and knowledge in helping learners in a variety of group settings, ranging from beginners to intermediate skill levels
• After two years of unemployment, the qualifications and hands on experience from EverybodyOnline has contributed to her securing a full time computing skills training post with the NHS