A NEW Ventnor-based course to teach basic computer skills to adults in social housing is underway.
V-LineSTUDIO has been commissioned by Southern Housing Group to teach an introduction to the world of computers, which is designed to take residents from novice to reasonable competence in four weeks.
The initiative is backed by Adult Community Learning at the Isle of Wight Council (ACL), which has been awarded a grant to help pay for V-LineSTUDIO’s overall adult learning programme.
At the end of the course, students will be able to use e-mail, the internet, photographs and communications, such as Skype.
Both Southern Housing and V-LineSTUDIO, as well as the ACL team, hope the course will boost the confidence of those who take part.
The programme includes free membership of the studio in Ventnor, where individuals can practise after formal tuition has ended.
V-LineSTUDIO was opened thanks to help from Ventnor resident and businessman William Smith.
Jamie Macaulay, head of the studio, said: "The combined vision of V-LineSTUDIO, Southern Housing Group and ACL allows us to continue our mission to support the community in Ventnor.
"We have targeted 100-plus trainees for this year and the initial Southern Housing Group Project, with other projects, takes us a long way to meeting that aim."
Reporter: davidn@iwcpmail.co.uk