It had been years since Martin Pipe was last in a job centre and when he stepped through those doors again, little did he know that his life was about to change forever.
Martin’s life was just starting to turn a corner after years of living with addiction.
One of his first steps to recovery was to visit a job centre to find out what his options were.
But to Martin’s surprise these were no longer the days when you literally signed on.
Instead Martin was shown to a computer and told he needed to go online and complete a series of forms. And it was at this moment the world he thought he knew fell apart.
“It’s was like I had been in prison for 20 years and I stepped out into a world where everything had changed,” Martin recalled.
“I didn’t even know how to switch the computer on let alone do anything else with it. It was really quite frightening.”
Martin did not have to feel frightened for too long as his support worker told him about a new course that could just be the answer he was looking for – Bourne Digital.
Bourne Digital was set up to help people like Martin who had been out of work for a long time and lacked the digital skills needed in today’s modern workplace.
A 12-week programme, it consisted of weekly lessons that covered all the Microsoft Office functions as well as building confidence, online security and careers advice.
Crucially, each student had access to their own volunteer digital champion for one-to-one sessions to reinforce their learning and to receive support and encouragement.
“My digital champion was brilliant. I was full of fear but Mike, my champion was so good and helped build my confidence up. Even though it was all done via Zoom it soon felt natural and it was like we were just having a conversation.”
Martin’s main goal was to create a digital CV, which, with Mike’s help, he achieved.
And completing the online forms that so phased him just a few weeks earlier when he visited the job centre? That’s a doddle for Martin now.
Martin gained so much confidence from Bourne Digital that he signed up to study foundation maths and English courses at his local college.
With many Covid restrictions in place, most of Martin’s learning has been done online.
“Oh wow, I can’t even begin to say how much a difference Bourne Digital has made to my life,” Martin said.
“I can now email, download things, complete online forms and search the internet – all things that are so important today that I just did not have a clue about a few months ago.
“It’s now part of my daily routine. Every morning I get up and check my emails.”
And what Bourne Digital has helped give Martin is a clear view of his future.
“I’ve always known that I needed to do courses in English and maths if I was to move away from labouring type of work,” he said.
“I did try a college course a few years ago but I struggled so much with the computer side of things I gave up after the second lesson, I was just too slow.
“But thanks to Bourne Digital I am back doing that course again.”
And in the longer term? Martin has a vision of where he would like to see himself.
“I want to be a support worker helping people like myself who are living with addiction or are homeless.
“I’m still on the road to recovery and I have to take things at the right pace but Bourne Digital has definitely set me on the right path.”
Bourne Digital – the facts
Bourne Digital was part of a pioneering programme called Power Up, which was an initiative by the Good Things Foundation charity and funded by JP Morgan.
Locally it was overseen by Ansbury Guidance and supported by Skills &Learning, Dorset Council’s volunteer digital champions and BCP Council’s Library Service.
The course provided 12 weeks of digital training to unemployed and underemployed people in the BCP Council area.
Launched just prior to lockdown, the courses had to quickly move online.
Clients received weekly lessons on a wide range of subjects, including learning about the Microsoft Office functions, CV writing, online security and careers advice.
Their lessons were supplemented with one-to-one sessions with a volunteer Digital Champion who helped to reinforce what they had learned and build-up confidence.
One-to-one sessions were able to move to Bournemouth Library as Covid restrictions were eased.
The clients also enjoyed sessions from a range of guest speakers who provided information about local services such as the Foodbank, Citizens Advice Money Talks and Dorset Cyber Security.
- 100% students reported feeling ‘good’, ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ about their digital skills by the end of the course.
- 68% clients were supported to access information about further learning or volunteering opportunities.
- 33% clients who enrolled on the programme have accessed National Careers Services appointments
I have worked in communications for 25 years, first as a journalist and then in public and private sector public relations. From Southampton originally, I have lived in beautiful Dorset for the last two decades. My passion for Dorset has also turned into a passion for landscape photography. My other great loves are my family and Southampton Football Club.
Gutted as have been diagnosed with head and neck cancer which has spread to my lymph nodes and is now terminal. After various gruelling treatment regimes, my dreams of being a support worker and trying to help people to get back to some sort of normal living are sadly over and am now under palliative care. Tbh you’ve just got to get on with it because the world doesn’t stop for you and looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing and I urge everyone to go digital because it’s a too bigger digital juggernaut that ain’t stopping and you will be marginalised further when applying for work. Martin Pipe
Hi Martin, we are so very sorry to hear this news. Your story was very inspirational to us all. If there is anything we can do to help, please do email us at digitaldorset@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk Kind regards, Rachel