Where I cover: The East Lancashire area including Blackburn, Clitheroe, all the Ribble Valley area, Great Harwood, Accrington, Burnley, Nelson and Colne.

Postcodes: BB1, BB2, BB5, BB6, BB7 and BB12

To contact Chris click here

Availability: I am available Monday to Friday from 9am till 9pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10am till 4pm.

What I teach:

• Switching on and logging onto your computer/laptop
• Safely closing down your computer/laptop
• Basic mouse skills
• Keyboard: how to use efficiently and productively
• Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 operating systems
• Windows File and Folder management/Control Panel/Printers
• Internet: browsing, simple  search techniques, research, accessing government services online, safe surfing and shopping online (including banking)
• Outlook: email, calendar, contacts and tasks
• Web based email: Hotmail/Yahoomail/Googlemail and others
• Microsoft Office 2003,2007 and 2010
• Word processing (including labels and mail merge)
• Excel Spreadsheets: create and edit (including formulae)
• Access: create databases for address lists, societies and business
• Publisher: producing cards, posters and newsletters
• PowerPoint: creating presentations
• Digital photography: transferring images to your computer and basic editing/resizing and cropping
• Adobe Professional and PDF Xchange Viewer software: to edit and annotate PDF documents

About me:

I have been an IT Trainer for the last 11 years, working in libraries for 9 years tutoring courses for the general public, and the last 2 years at County Hall in Preston as the IT Training Officer for the county’s 84 County Councillors. I am fully conversant with all aspects of Microsoft Office, Internet and email and various desktop publishing packages.

In the past I have worked with various different organisations: Age Concern, Help the Aged, Older People’s Forum, East Lancs Advocacy Service, Blackburn with Darwen Carers Service, Sheltered Housing Associations and numerous community and neighbourhood groups. I was also heavily involved with the initial pilot and implementation of MyGuide whilst at the Library Service.

In my spare time I enjoy keeping trim, swimming, playing badminton or attending the gym. I enjoy socialising with friends; love to travel and visit places of historical interest (member of the National trust). l love reading or listening to audio books, going to live music concerts and watching plays and musicals at the local theatres. I enjoy crosswords, quizzes and puzzles of any kind; also love to play card and board games to keep my brain active and alert.

I have worked as a volunteer advocate on and off for East Lancs Advocacy Service for the last twelve years, working with a range of people with learning difficulties or mental and physical health problems.

As a Chartered Accountant involved in computers in the financial sense for the last thirty years I now concentrate on computers generally and to that end have recently obtained CompTIA+ certification and PTLLS teaching qualifications.

What you can expect from me is a professional, friendly, patient, measured service. I do not use jargon, everything is explained in plain English and I work strictly at your pace moving forward only when you are ready.

Where I cover: I cover two areas:

Gargrave, Grassington, Skipton, Ilkley, Burley in Wharfedale, Bingley, Shipley, Hawarth, Keighley and all areas in between ie postcodes LS29, BD16, BD17,BD18, BD20,BD21,BD22, and BD23.

Blackpool, Lytham St Annes, Thornton Cleveleys, and Fleetwood ie postcodes FY0, FY1, FY2, FY4, FY5,  FY7 and FY8.

To contact Terry, click here.

Availability: All reasonable times, just get in contact.

What I teach:

I can teach you in all the areas listed below as well as help you with any simple technical problems.

• WINDOWS  XP & VISTA
  • Basic operating Skills
  • Tips for shortcuts and ease of use

• SECURITY
  • Passwords
  • Safety on the Internet
  • Viruses & Malware

• INTERNET
  • Getting on the Internet
  • Web browsing :various methods
  • Social networking (Facebook, Twitter)
  • Buying and selling on E-Bay
  • SKYPE

• E-MAILS
  • Getting an E-mail account
  • Personal E-Mails
  • Web-Based E-mails

• LOCAL AREA NETWORKING
  • Small home networks

• MICROSOFT SOFTWARE
  • Creating, reading and using Excel Spreadsheets,
  • Creating and giving Powerpoint Presentations
  • Letters and word processing with Word

• ADVICE on SAGE and all FINANCIAL/ACCOUNTING/ TAX  software

• REPAIRS & UPGRADES

About me:

After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with an international firm of chartered accountants, I worked extensively in systems and financial management within the television industry with the BBC and ITV and broadened that experience generally in financial management, contract negotiations and legal and business affairs.

I followed that as a self employed accountant in systems and project work with a wide variety of organizations and joined the Civil Service after spending two years as part of the team implementing a new computerized financial accounting system within one of the Government  Agencies

I am particular anxious to help older people in computers as they were not introduced to them early or, as now, in childhood. Knowing how to access a computer and all its facilities will open a new and exiting world to you because, remember, as each week passes not knowing about computers becomes more and more disadvantageous.

Where I cover: North Manchester and surrounding areas including Bury Rochdale, Shaw, Milnrow and the Rossendale Valley.

To contact Phil, click here.

Availability: Monday to Friday 9.00 to 5.00 preferred but evenings by arrangement.

What I teach:

• Introduction to basic computer skills for absolute beginners)
• How to switch it on and basic mouse technique
• Using Windows XP or Vista
• How to use Windows for File/Folder management and other maintenance tasks.
• Using the Internet for e-mails, browsing, and for research and on line safe shopping
• Microsoft Office 2003 & 2007:
• Microsoft Word for writing letters etc,
• Microsoft Excel for home finance spreadsheets etc
• Microsoft Publisher for producing cards, posters and newsletters
• Microsoft PowerPoint for presentations
• Microsoft Access for databases such as club membership records.
• Digital photography transferring images to your computer and basic editing.
• Buying and selling on E-Bay

About me:

After working within the textile dyestuff industry for nearly 40 years firstly with ICI and then with BASF progressing from laboratory work to Quality Assurance management. Both companies were in the forefront of new technology and over the years the use of computers became integral for the business and I enjoyed training other colleagues in their use.

When the company moved its operation to Germany I was made redundant and whilst looking for a new job I become a volunteer at the Manchester based St Vincent Housing Association.

This involved helping the elderly residents of their sheltered housing schemes to use the newly installed computers which I found this particularly rewarding as it gave them a new set of skills and independence which has opened up a new world.

As a result of this I started teaching people in their home on a one to one basis showing them how to use the computer.I have been doing this for the last four years.

Why did I Join Digital Unite

Whilst I was working I realised that intensive and group computer tuition did not suit everyone as people learn at different rates and have different needs. I believe that I have some skill in teaching people on a more individual basis and tailoring lessons to their needs and helping them overcome any fears of computers.

I first became aware of Digital Unite during a volunteer session when they were setting up a project at the home I was visiting and was impressed with their approach.

Since them I have been fortunate in 2008 to be part of delivering training on behalf of Digital Unite at two housing association schemes as part of the Power to all People programme which was sponsored by Virgin Media.

The majority of the residents on the programme had no knowledge of computers but within seven weeks they were confident to use the computer without fear and were able go on to form a user group to extend their knowledge.

Outside work I am the secretary of a Kennel Club affiliated golden retriever club and have been able to use my computer skills in bringing the administration of our club up to date.