Tech team changing lives
TECH giant Google is helping some of the Manchester’s most vulnerable people transform their lives.
Through its Digital Garage project, it has paired up with Big Issue North to help vendors finding a job and boost their online skills.
Big Issue vendors can be homeless or sleeping rough, in temporary accommodation, in danger of losing their home, unemployed and/or facing financial crisis. Homeless and vulnerable people face unique challenges when it comes to digital literacy.
Smartphones can be key in helping avoid social exclusion, providing an outlet for communicating, for researching work placements and opportunities and for helping connect to vital services. The partnership between Google and Big Issue North offers the magazine’s vendors one-toone mentoring, training and group workshops on essential digital skills.
Daniel Achim, service manager at Big Issue North, said the charity is delighted to be working alongside the Google Digital Garage to give more vendors in Manchester the chance to make the most of the opportunities digital brings.
“As well as giving people a chance to earn an income through selling the magazine, we look to support our vendors in making positive changes and help them move on with their lives,” he said.
“In today’s society, supporting access to digital skills training is really important for us; it gives vendors greater opportunity to enter mainstream employment, and generally become more digitally savvy.”
Nicolae, a Big Issue North seller, attended the Digital Garage to receive free training. Originally a farm labourer in Romania, Nicolaie came to the UK in 2014 but struggled to attain full-time employment because his English language skills were limited.
He became selfemployed, selling Big Issue North in the city centre and helping with the delivery of the magazine and is now keen to get a full-time job.
Nicolaie recently wanted to apply for work in a kitchen but couldn’t because he didn’t have a CV. He came to the Digital Garage with an interpreter and they sat with Sara, a Digital Garage trainer and learnt how to create one.
The Digital Garage in Manchester opened in November, offering free face-to-face coaching for anyone who wants to improve their digital skills.