Halesowen College’s state-of-the-art digital bus CEDRIC has been out and about in Stourbridge to help bring digital skills to local people.
CEDRIC (acronym for Creating Engaging Digital Resources in the Community) is equipped with IT equipment and works with local hard to reach communities as well as providing essential IT upskilling to local businesses.
The college’s digibus is aimed at supporting communities to improve their digital skills and to encourage employers to prioritise workforce development. This mobile learning resource demonstrates Halesowen College’s commitment to bridging the digital divide and promoting lifelong learning.
It has been designed to inspire and enable the local community by offering access to essential digital skills and personal development opportunities. The session aims to enhance functional knowledge of digital tools, catering to individuals seeking personal development or professional upskilling.
During the event at Wollaston Village Hall visitors participated in a variety of engaging and interactive sessions, including:
· Interactive Sessions:
o MS Office with Embedded AI Tools
o Essential Digital Skills Taster
o Creative Marketing Bootcamp Taster
· Digital Drop-In Support:
o Connecting to the Internet
o Sending Emails
o MS Office Basics
o CV Writing & Job Applications
· VR Bodyswap Interview Experience: Gain confidence for real-life job interviews through an immersive virtual reality experience.
Gary Johnson, Employer Engagement Manager commented, “CEDRIC is a great resource that community organisations can use to support people looking develop their skill set. We are delighted to be working with the Wollaston Village Hall committee to give the community an opportunity to develop new skills.”
Kay Venables who supports the village hall through her business Fishers Lettings commented “I’m really pleased to have helped bring the Cedric digital bus to Wollaston Village Hall. It’s fantastic to see this space being used as a hub for practical support that genuinely benefits local residents. As someone who works closely with the community through Fishers Lettings, it’s important to me that opportunities like this are accessible right on people’s doorsteps.”
CEDRIC was funded by the Local Skills Improvement Fund to bridge the digital skills gap.
