Improving your skills

Do you need help getting online?

Microsoft Office 2013 Word & Excel Training.

• Would you like to gain a qualification in Microsoft Word and Excel? This autumn we are starting our first Microsoft Word training course to upskill Raven Residents in the pursuit of finding better employment.

The course will offer training in all elements of the basic functions of Word 2013 and also some functions at the intermediate level for instance “mail merging”. The course is run by a professional trainer and is free and accredited through Rave Housing Trust. We are working towards accreditation with The Microsoft Corporation at this time.

The course will initially run for 4 weeks with sessions lasting two hours, there is a requirement that those who attend will do extra work between sessions. To assist those who attend we will loan you for the duration of the course a laptop with Microsoft Office 2013 installed.

Course times and venues:

West Mount, Redhill starts 16th January 10am for 4 weeks

Merland Rise Church, Tadworth starts 18th January10 am for 4 weeks

NEW 10"Tablet OFFER!

We're offering you a 10" tablet PC with a dongle (6GB of data) which we will loan to you for a two month period. All we are asking of you is to complete the "Learn my Way" modular online course which will lead to a City & Guilds IT qualification.

During the process we will help you complete a CV online and provide support with your job hunting and email. We are looking to help as many people as possible find work and provide ongoing support whilst doing so.

Apple Mac Computer loan to help you find employment!

We can loan you a 21” Apple Mac Computer to use with our Employment web-based search tool to help you find employment. During the loan period we can support you with CV writing and employment advice. During the last year we have supported 14 families to find employment which has been life changing.

Apple Mac Computer loan to help your family develop social media skills and get online with your local school.

We are loaning equipment to families on a low income to help them engage with social media and completing school work. We will loan you equipment for up to 12 months.

Are you paying too much to your energy provider? We can help!

We can come to your home and do an energy saving comparison, during the last year we have saved households on average £37 a month. One gentleman we supported recently we have saved £1700 by change his energy provider and seeking better mobile phone and Wi-Fi offers. Every week we are looking for new low cost broadband deals you can call Steve or Tricia on 0300 123 33 99 and ask for advice.

Do you need to move house?

We can come to your home to help you sign up to the Reigate and Banstead Housing register. We can also set up a Homeswapper account for you and will manage it on your behalf is you do not have a computer or broadband.

Just wanting to improve your online skills?

We are running a programme to help our residents and the local community get online by developing and supporting our volunteer digital champions.

Digital champions are people who can help others use the internet; it is a sustainable and cost-effective way to improve digital skills among residents - a major challenge facing all housing providers in light of the Government’s Welfare Reform.

You're also more than welcome to come along to our drop-in sessions with Steve Ward or Tricia Kirkpatrick from our digital team. We can also offer one to one and small group coaching.

Join us at one of our Community Digital Drop ins:

At our community hubs you can learn new skills; How to use email, how to shop online, how to search the internet and how to stay safe on line. We can also support you with CV writing and how to apply for jobs.

At our Tadworth Hub we work in partnership with Bluebird Care to help our resident find employment. Join us:

Merstham: Portland House: Wednesdays, 12pm – 2pm Tadworth: Merland Rise Church: Thursday, 10am – 12noon