1. Digital Skills Initiatives

2. An inclusive and just society where each person is encouraged and enabled to reach their full potential and live with dignity in active, healthy and safe communities

3.  Tackling poverty and removing barriers to participation in society are at the heart of our work in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown  Southside Partnership is one of 50 Local Development Companies working with socially excluded individuals, groups and communities in Ireland  We are implementing the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP) in DLR  Providing opportunities to improve digital skills is an essential part of this work as it improves peoples’ chances to gain employment, builds confidence, fosters social inclusion and enables individuals to utilise different means of communication in order to be heard

4.  The project was started in April 2012 under the Tús programme and has since grown substantially in scope. The team is currently teaching 150 students each week.  The original idea was to provide peer-to-peer training and to complement formal programmes (e.g. QQI courses) which were on offer in community centres around the county.  We try to provide tailored solutions to community members to be as inclusive as possible and to enable learners to start training at a level that is right for them.

5.  Benefit 4 Basics - Getting people onto the web for the first time. We collaborate with Age Action in a variety of locations around the county.  1to1 tutoring for service users from Rehab Care, Carmona Services and HSE Autism Unit Services - to support people with disabilities to get into the workforce.  NALA Write-On - teaching literacy and computer literacy skills with online systems and tutors.  Code Academy -getting teenagers familiar with coding (similar to Coder Dojo) in various locations

6.  Through our IT Training Team, Southside Partnership provides tailored 1to1 and group computer training to Tús participants  1to1 and group computer training in relation to specific topics such as website design, internet marketing and social media is regularly provided to our clients going into self-employment in receipt of the Back to Work Enterprise allowance  Referral links exist between our Local Employment Service and our various training centres. Clients are also linked into ETB, Benefit 4 and other bespoke classes as appropriate

7.  Southside Partnership offers QQI-accredited computer training at the Mounttown Community Facility. These programmes are delivered in collaboration with Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board (ETB). We will also be offering ETB-funded courses at Holly House in Loughlinstown. These programmes focus on empowering community members to enhance their digital skills.  Benefit 4 computer training courses are also delivered in our resource centres (Ballybrack, Mounttown, Holly House, Furry Hill)  Bespoke digital skills training is also provided at our resource centres based on local needs (or example, film & animation class at Holly House, 1to1 training for members of local Men’s Shed)

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