The Village Agents service is not just about connecting people to the best support. If an unmet need for support is identified locally the Agents will often try to fill the gap. To this end the agents have started to provide some basic computer training using BBC First Click materials.

Mark Ralling - IT Technician and Village Agent Jayne Laken tutor the classes at Hedingham School. Jayne says “Through the Village Agent scheme, I wanted to make available a computer course designed for the older generation within our communities, enabling them to contact their friends and family using email, plus surf the net and have access to information.  First Click, together with all the help and support of Mark Bouckley, Assistant Headteacher and Mark Ralling, IT Technician at Hedingham School, made this a reality!  Learning a new skill at any age can be a daunting prospect.  First Click paved the way effortlessly for our students and it was a pleasure to see the enthusiasm on their faces as they began to discover the wonders of the worldwide web.  I felt very proud of them all for achieving their goals and being part of their success!”

After the first course Mark Ralling reflected that “This course uses the internet to gain access to the vast array of information available, keep in contact with friends and family and even find a few bargains! It was a pleasure to deliver this course to the group using the up to date facilities available at Hedingham School.”

Courses are also held in Stisted and Silver End and more are planned at other locations in Mid Essex.

It was a defining moment for one of our customers who had attended a computer class run by one of the Village Agents. As a result of the course the recipe for a raspberry trifle was sourced from the internet and emailed as an attachment to the agent with the following note. "Just what you always wanted !!! This is just to let you know your hard work has some results!!"

If you know someone that may be interested then please make them aware of the Village Agents service. To learn more about the IT courses, our Village Agents service please call us on 01376 574341 or free on 0800 9775858 or visit:  
www.villageagentsessex.org.uk