Canary Wharf, Christian faith, digital master, social media skills, young people,
Thursday 26th February 2015
One hundred young people from the UCKG HelpCentre’s youth group, VYG, enjoyed a day of free digital master classes last Saturday, when the youths were guests at Upload Live. This was a huge digital skills festival for young people, hosted by Barclays bank and digital skills training expert’s Free formers.
On 21 February, an enthusiastic group of VYG’s 16 – 25 year olds from all over London trooped off to Barclays headquarters in Canary Wharf. Their aim was to learn how to code, build websites and apps, develop their social media skills and get to grips with online security and Google glasses in less than a day.
They were coached by some of Free former’s best trainers; and had an opportunity to learn from a panel of young digital experts who were eager to share their stories about how they hacked their careers.
Pastor Victor Alves, national leader of the VYG said: “It was a great opportunity, being invited to take part in this digital master class. It gave our members a taster of being digitally creative and coming up with ideas for new computer app designs. We are very grateful to everyone at Barclays and Free formers who made this possible.”
His view that Upload Live had helped VYG members interested in technology and technological advances open their minds to what the digital world has to offer, was confirmed by many of the participants.
The contact between Barclays bank and the UCKG HelpCentre was established as a result of a chance meeting between bank staff in Hammersmith, west London and UCKG HelpCentre fundraisers who were collecting on the street. It was taken forward by the UCKG HelpCentre’s Community Outreach coordinator, and also resulted in digital training for 35 members of the charity’s seniors’ group, Caleb.
ENDS
Notes to editors
The UCKG HelpCentreis a Christian church and registered charity that offers a range of practical support activities alongside spiritual support and comfort and welcomes all-comers. It reached the UK in 1995 and has gone from strength to strength, providing support and spreading the Christian faith. There are UCKG HelpCentre branches in England and Wales.
The UCKG HelpCentre’s youth group, VYG, is a major long-term priority. Designed for 15 – 25 year olds, the VYG provides the same family-style peer group support that attracts young people to gang life, but without the destructive behaviours. Rather, it helps and encourages the young to be the best that they can be.
The UK’s current digital inclusion strategy aims to ensure that by 2020 all adults in the UK who could be digitally capable have acquired those skills.
For further information please contact the UCKG HelpCentre Press Officer via e-mail on press@uckgnew.org or direct line 020 7686 6033.
