IT training and employment advice close to home

Peabody Trust’s mobile Digivan gives people the chance to improve their IT skills and search for work, even when they don’t have access to a computer at home.

Peabody Trust found that many socially excluded residents of inner city housing estates were unemployed because they lacked basic employability and language skills.  Most of those questioned stated emphatically that they would not, or could not, attend mainstream programmes.  Many had low self esteem or – having failed previously on such programmes – did not want to fail again. Tenants wanted something convenient, user friendly and located very close to home.

Thus the concept of the Digivans came about.  The primary aim of the Digivan is to make information technology and quality advice and guidance on employment and training available to unemployed disadvantaged groups in London - therefore helping those disadvantaged to gain work.  Additionally the scheme supports e-Inclusion – giving socially and economically excluded groups access to the internet and related services. 

Staffed by employment and training professionals, the Digivans operate in Westminster, Lambeth, Southwark, Wandsworth and Tower Hamlets. 

The Digivans help users to become familiar with a classroom environment and, in addition to providing training, gradually introduce users to mainstream education centres in their local area.

Elsewhere, in partnership with JobCentre Plus, the Digivans regularly park outside identified Job Centres to deliver job search support to people who have been long-term unemployed.

More information on Peabody Trust.

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