The Blair Project

We’ve been celebrating #GetOnlineWeek in style! 🎉 Newton Heath Library was filled with clinks, buzzes, whirrs - & plenty of excited chatter - as three classes of Year 6 students joined Manchester City Council's Digital Skills Event yesterday. Led by the Digital Inclusion and Work & Skills teams, & supported by some of Manchester's most inspiring digital organisations, students tried out technologies many had never seen before. From designing their own creative trophies in CAD, to creating the interface for an app selling roller skates to turtles, & even coding robots to play bumper cars, the five activity sessions offered students an exciting glimpse into the many possibilities of a career in STEM. If you've ever doubted the power of technology to ignite the imagination, take a look at student's brilliantly creative responses: 🌊 A mobile game where players guide a lost mermaid through the ocean to find her way home 😺 Ani-gram: a photography app for animals to flaunt their scales, fur & plumage ⛈ A storm cloud trophy for the worst weather in the world – awarded, of course, to Manchester Despite the immense amount of talent in Manchester, young people from underserved communities like Newton Heath are not always afforded equal opportunity to realise their potential. Thanks to the wonderful teams at Fujitsu, The Blair Project & #DiSH our event could offer young people the chance to access opportunities they may not otherwise have, develop their digital skills, & unlock the many possibilities that the digital world can offer. ↪ And that wasn't all! After bidding the students a fond farewell, the Library opened its doors to a more grown-up clientele, with the afternoon session welcoming residents to discover the wealth of digital support available in Manchester. For those at risk of digital exclusion, access to resources & training could mean the difference between connecting with loved ones or struggling with loneliness, exploring new job opportunities or facing unemployment, enjoying independence or relying on others for daily tasks. With free guidance from Citizens Advice, & digital skills trainers providing support for all skills levels, the session offered opportunities for residents to develop the essential skills needed to get online safely & responsibly. Even where residents have the skills to navigate the Internet, financial barriers can present significant challenges to access. The incredible team at Community Computers brought along their pop-up shop, offering residents on low incomes the chance to purchase subsidised laptops from just £60. 🤯 Within an hour, all 40 devices had found new homes! At Manchester's Digital Strategy we’re proud to support initiatives that help people in our city to discover the advantages that digital can offer, no matter their background or circumstance. By making technology accessible to all - & no longer a privilege - we can work together to close the digital divide for good.