Working online can be tough at the best of times and many of us will have experienced frustrations with systems and perhaps the inability to access sites, but factor into this having additional needs, and all of a sudden there is a big barrier to accessing services online in a digital word!

Through our collaborative working with Connective Technologies and Sutton Council’s Cultural Services at Sutton Central Library, Roy Cogo at the Royal Mencap Employ Me programme, was gifted six laptops and three mobile phones and has now provided all of these directly to six of his Services Users including David here.

 

Without projects like this, residents like David wouldn’t even be able to get online, complete online courses or access online services without further support. David was extremely impressed with our project and now feels empowered to do all of the work he needs to do online independently. Coupled with contracts like Employ Me in place, David is well on the way to getting a new role.

“I wanted to thank Together for Sutton, Sutton Library and Connective Technologies for all your support in recent weeks in sourcing six great laptops and three mobile phones for people with learning disabilities to use and become more confident in using the online world. They are eternally grateful.” Roy Cogo, Royal Mencap Employ Me Programme Coordinator.

And many of us will have experienced headaches and sore eyes from too much screen time, but factor into this being partially sighted and working online can have a whole new level of barriers to access.

Through our collaborative working with Denise Crone at Sutton Vision, Denise is now hoping to explore a training package for people living with sight loss, from beginners training all the way up to those who just need a little support, but the idea being to help residents to adjust to working online and have inclusive access to everything online.

Should you or anyone you know need support, please know that the TfS partnership are here to support you as best as possible. You can contact us on 020 8254 2616, 9am – 5pm or self-refer online here.

To get in contact with Royal Mencap, please contact them via their website here.

To get in contact with Sutton Vision, please contact them via their website here. 

To access Sutton Central Library services, please visit their website here.

Another big “Thank You” to Connective Technologies for donating the tech, you have helped so many residents in Sutton. We hope to gift more equipment over the year as we progress our work with both Connective Technologies and Sutton Council’s Cultural Services. Should you want to partner up with TfS, please contact Kate directly on kate@communityactionsutton.org.uk