Now “Getting IT together ” to research your family tree – digital inclusion initiative goes from strength to strength.

We hear from the local Citizen’s Online “Getting IT together” co-ordinator, Brigitte Vallance that the local digital inclusion initiative is going very well and she told us of a further step to help people use skills they have learnt so far:

“We are putting this event on jointly with the Highland Archive department as we have found that the Get IT Together project has proved so successful so far that those who are learning want to carry on.  We thought a good way to encourage the learners to use their newly acquired skills and improve further would be to have

6 sessions learning how to research your family tree.  We have had a fantastic response to the suggestion and the first block of sessions is already fully booked!”

There will be an introductory talk on Monday the 14th of October between 2-4 p.m. in the Community and Arts Centre and the Course proper begins on Friday the 18th at the Adult Education rooms above the library. More details about the course available here. 

Brigitte was also at the Careers Evening event at Nairn Academy, she said “It was a real success, with a lovely buzz around the whole evening. With the brilliant support of Liz Main - Signpost. Inc. we managed to sign 30 new volunteers to join the Saltire Awards and volunteer with the Nairn Get IT Together project.  We hope that with their help and support the community of Nairn will continue to become more digitally inclusive.  It was a great event and thanks to all those young students who signed up and also to the parent council and the all the staff who made this such a very positive event."

“The students were so helpful, polite and well-mannered, nothing was too much trouble for them to help with, from blowing up balloons to bringing around refreshments.  Even those with already busy volunteering commitments wanting to get involved!”

“We are hopeful that with the School’s support that we can all encourage even greater links between the local community and the school by having some Get IT Training sessions in the School’s PC Suite which Mrs MacDonald the Head Teacher very generously suggested that we use.  I can’t tell you how well this project has been received by the Nairn community and I feel very privileged to be working with the people in Nairn.  The spirit and keenness to learn and overcome barriers has been fantastic and most weeks I get calls, or people coming into the Community Centre to ask about classes because their friends are already coming along.”