Jobless can add to their computer skills

UNEMPLOYED Halton residents are being offered the chance to improve their computer and IT skills.

Halton Housing Trust (HHT) has joined forces with Include-IT Mersey Digital’s Inclusion project.

It will offer training and unemployment support for jobseekers in Runcorn and Widnes, especially those aged 45 and over.

The new project is jointly funded by the European Social Fund and the Big Lottery Fund as part of its 2014-2020 Building Better Opportunities Programme.

It will involve a personalised package of support to digitally excluded residents of the Liverpool City Region that are out of work to help improve their IT and online skills, confidence in using and practical access to digital technologies and, ultimately, support them towards and into employment.

HHT is one of 23 not-for-profit and public sector partners involved in the project which spans Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens, Halton and Wirral, each with specific target areas in their boroughs.

The initiative is being led by Sefton CVS in collaboration with VOLA Consortium members, housing associations and local authorities.

A HHT spokesman said: “It will ensure that those in need of support to help develop their IT skills, access to online services and digital technologies will receive the best possible service, whatever their starting point.

“In addition to IT skills development, assistance will include employability and personal skills development to support people into or closer to employment.”

For more information and to sign up to receive updates at www.includeitmersey. org.uk