{"id":1151,"date":"2023-03-27T14:36:26","date_gmt":"2023-03-27T13:36:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/digital-first\/?p=1151"},"modified":"2023-03-27T14:46:49","modified_gmt":"2023-03-27T13:46:49","slug":"how-digital-opened-a-whole-new-world-for-simon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/digital-first\/2023\/03\/27\/how-digital-opened-a-whole-new-world-for-simon\/","title":{"rendered":"How digital opened a whole new world for Simon"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Simon<\/a>
Simon Hobbs from Swanage with the laptop that was gifted to him by the Digital Doorway scheme and one of the crafts he has made.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was 2021, the country was in lockdown and everything in Simon Hobbs\u2019 world had turned upside down.<\/p>\n

Forced to give up his job as a primary school teacher due to mental health struggles, the then 50-year-old from Swanage had reached the lowest moment of his life.<\/p>\n

But fast-forward two years later, thanks to amazing support from the NHS Mental Health team and one simple gift from Dorset Council, Simon is facing a far brighter future.<\/p>\n

That simple gift was a laptop. That might not sound like much to most of us but that laptop – gifted through the council\u2019s Digital Doorway scheme – made Simon\u2019s dream of being a self-employed craftsman a reality.<\/p>\n

And making crafts has been a life saver for the father of two. \"\" <\/a><\/p>\n

Simon explained: \u201cI have always been creative and into making crafts, but it was during this time I discovered just how much craft making helped me.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to immerse myself in making crafts was the healing process I had been looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not only was craft-making key to Simon\u2019s recovery, it also paved the way for a future career. But he needed digital help to get him there \u2013 and that\u2019s where Dorset Council\u2019s Digital Doorway scheme came in.<\/p>\n

Digital Doorway gifts devices, such as laptops and tablets, to residents who are digitally excluded in some way. This could be through a lack of skills or confidence, or, as in Simon\u2019s case, unable to afford a device.<\/p>\n

After six months of being under the care of the mental health team, Simon\u2019s recovery stage meant he was able to talk about his future career options and what he would like to do.<\/p>\n

It was this conversation that prompted the mental health team to refer him to Digital Doorway.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cI told the team about my crafting and how I would like to develop that as a business but all I had was a very old phone and Chromebook,\u201d Simon recalled.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was then that they told me about Digital Doorway and asked if I would like to be put forward for it \u2013 and I said most definitely.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow I have the laptop, I describe it as my Rolls Royce, it\u2019s very precious to me. Without it, it would have taken a lot longer to get my business off the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Chromebook was ok for day-to-day stuff, but it just didn\u2019t have the software capability to help me develop my business online.\u201d<\/p>\n

After receiving the laptop, the first thing Simon did was create a website for his business, Foraged and Forged<\/a>, using free software.<\/p>\n

He has been able to sync his website to his social media accounts and create and upload videos and reels \u2013 so important in today\u2019s world of digital marketing.<\/p>\n

Simon began with making stone pendants and thanks to re-investing the money he has made from online sales and craft fairs; he has been able to buy tools that allowed him to create much more.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Thanks to his new tools he can now make wooden picture and mirror frames, candle stick holders and create intricate rings from teaspoons.<\/p>\n

Building up a business is a slow process but there\u2019s no doubt I wouldn\u2019t be where I am without the laptop,\u201d Simon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m still on Universal Credit as I am not making enough money from my business yet, but everything is declared, and the aim is to make it my sole living.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo succeed in a business like mine, you need a website, you need Instagram, you need reels \u2013 you need digital.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe laptop is the horse that drives my business, I\u2019ll forever be grateful for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The first phase of Digital Doorway was made possible thanks to a \u00a320,000 Covid recovery grant and 96 people were gifted a laptop or a tablet in 2022.<\/p>\n

In 2023, the council has been able to relaunch the project thanks to an innovative way of raising funds.<\/p>\n

Funds raised by recycling old council laptops has been ringfenced for Digital Doorway for the next three years \u2013 totalling \u00a3100,000.<\/p>\n

This is expected to help around another 500 digitally excluded residents receive laptops and tablets \u2013 plus data when it is needed.<\/p>\n

To be considered for Digital Doorway, people must be referred by an organisation or a professional.<\/p>\n

Any organisations or professionals that would like to find out more can go here – Digital Doorway – Dorset Council<\/a> or email digitaldorset@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It was 2021, the country was in lockdown and everything in Simon Hobbs\u2019 world had turned upside down. Forced to give up his job as a primary school teacher due to mental health struggles, the then 50-year-old from Swanage had reached the lowest moment of his life. But fast-forward two years later, thanks to amazing… Read more How digital opened a whole new world for Simon<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1907,"featured_media":1152,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[48,136,49,57,133],"tags":[137,43,78,52],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/digital-first\/files\/2023\/03\/simon-hobbs-30-1-of-1rs.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/digital-first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1151"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/digital-first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/digital-first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/digital-first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1907"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/digital-first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1151"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/digital-first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1151\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1160,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/digital-first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1151\/revisions\/1160"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/digital-first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1152"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/digital-first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/digital-first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/digital-first\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}