During the recent floods, the Soha website was a vital resource for tenants to find out what was happening across Oxfordshire. In a situation that was changing minute by minute, it was a fast and effective way to keep everyone informed.
That’s just one of the reasons that the housing association is working so hard to supports its tenants to get online. It also knows they want to access information quickly about benefit changes, new services and planned maintenance – and the website also offers them the chance to have their say.
Soha is holding eight different Spring Online events across its housing schemes during Spring Online Week from March 31 to April 4. It’s the second year the housing association has been involved in the campaign, and it follows up the taster events with regular sessions run by volunteers throughout the year. At these intergenerational events, people who have learnt their way around computers show those who want to try.
Adela Miencilova, Soha’s Digital Inclusion Project Officer says there have been some great success stories. One 80 year old man who’d never used a computer before was so inspired by a Spring Online event last year that he bought himself an iPad and now enjoys emailing and reading about his great interest, travel.
Soha owns and manages 6,000 affordable homes in Oxfordshire and surrounding areas. 39% of its tenants are older people, who can become isolated and lonely. Learning to use a computer helps them keep in touch with family and friends through email and Skype, and to pursue hobbies and interests.
But the Spring Online sessions are popular with younger tenants too, who want to be able to search for work and make job applications online. So Soha has also partnered with MyWorkSearch, a job-search site which also offers advice on applying for work. Adela says she was thrilled when one young woman who came along to a taster session visited her to say she had found a new job as a result.
With the introduction of Universal Credit, 80% of all benefit applications are expected to be online after 2017. 90% of all jobs are expected to require ICT skills by 2015, so supporting residents to engage with technology is an immediate challenge for housing providers like Soha.
Adela says: “Housing providers are well placed to provide this support to tenants. We see it as a real priority, and getting involved with national campaigns like Spring Online helps a lot because we receive lots of tips, advice and support to help with running our events.”