Digital star Bob goes to the top of the class
AMAN who suffered a stroke in one of his computer classes has won a national award for putting his new digital skills into practice to improve his health.
Bob Dunkerley, 85, from Woodley not only used his skills to find out more about his own health, but to inspire staff at his local community learning centre, Starting Point.
He was a finalist in the Learning for Health category at the 2 Millionth Learner Awards, run by the charity Good Things Foundation – which is celebrating having supported two million people gain new digital skills.
Bob’s story was selected for his determination, resilience, and the impact his new skills have had.
He first joined Starting Point in 2015 after a friend mentioned its computer classes to him. His aim was to catch up with the digital world and learn how to connect with people.
One day, in his class, Bob suffered a stroke. It was completely out of the blue, but following a short stint in hospital he was back in class and back online, using the internet to find out more about his stroke and how to take control of his condition.
Because of Bob, The Stroke Association was Starting Point’s charity of the year for 2016, and all the staff have received awareness training.
They describe him as a ‘role model’ to others who feel there are too many barriers to them getting online.
Bob said: “I’ve never looked at myself as a role model by any means.
“I just like to help people and I’ve recommended the computer classes to a couple of my friends. It’s not just the skills that are helpful, it’s the companionship that you get from meeting others at the centre. Since my stroke I’ve lost a lot of confidence, but the team at Starting Point boost my morale. If I’d never visited them, I wouldn’t be using a laptop that’s for sure – I’d probably just be plodding along.”
Helen Milner, chief executive at Good Things Foundation, added: “We know that digital skills can change lives – and Bob is living proof of that.
“The judges thought his journey was inspirational – he’s come such a long way, having hardly touched a computer when he started learning.
“I hope this award goes some way to helping Bob realise how special he is. We think he’s definitely one in two million!”