Homeless learn computer skills

Published 6 Nov 2008 12:00 0 Comments

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A HOSTEL for the homeless hopes to make its residents more employable by teaching them computer skills.

Hamble Court in Reading's Southampton Street now has five PCs and plans to run courses to help its 35 residents write CVs and search for jobs.

Specialist support worker Chris Symons, who developed the project, said: "Lots of our service users don't have the computer skills needed in the job market today. There are lots of people who are nervous with computers and we hope this will help them gain confidence."

The room was officially opened on Thursday by the Mayor of Reading, Cllr Peter Beard, who said: "These days if we don't have computer skills, we're lagging behind the team. This centre is going to really help the IT skills."

Jon Goodyer, chairman of the Hambletons residents' association, said: "It will help us learn about employment and hopefully go on to better things."

The hostel is run by the Church Housing Trust, which raised money for the £5,200 project, including a grant of around £2,000 from the Mobbs Memorial Trust.

The centre caters for men and women aged 16-65 with a variety of needs, including addiction and mental health problems, and former prisoners.

Support manager Stewart Tippett said it is always at capacity.

He said: "We had 60 referrals last month. For every one vacancy we usually have eight or nine referrals. If someone leaves on a Sunday, their bed will be full by Monday evening.

"We don't have a regular number of homeless people in Reading - the town tends to attract all sorts of people. There are also a lot of sofa surfers."

Mr Tippett added: "We do want a detox unit. There's a terrible alcohol problem in Reading. Lots of the damage that alcohol does isn't just to individuals - it is to the families as well.

"There is a different drinking culture now - the town centre is full of 16-25-year-olds. We have to work with the next generation of drinkers."

He said: "There's lots of people in Reading doing lots of good work. Hamble Court is about empowering and supporting people to move on to more independent lives despite, whatever problems they have had. The hostel helps people come back into the community and gives them the basic living skills.

"It's about raising confidence and giving them a chance to rebuild their lives."

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 06 Nov 08

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