DigitalCity helps people with mental health issues in job-hunting

Teesside University’s DigitalCity has delivered an innovative programme to help those with mental health issues to improve their employment prospects by creating a digital portfolio.

Steve Thompson, social entrepreneur in Residence at DigitalCity, worked with Redcar and Cleveland Mind to deliver the ‘Hotspot for Jobs’ project to help people with online job-hunting.

Steve said: “We are helping people to gain digital skills and providing a supportive ‘club’ type environment in which to do it.

“Every person taking part is being helped to build a brand new digital footprint that includes LinkedIn and other social media accounts.

“Using Teesside University’s Google Apps Education Edition everyone gets an email account as well.”

Nick Murray, social enterprise coordinator, Redcar and Cleveland Mind, said: “Hotspot for Jobs helps people to get a digital professional identity to help them into employment.

“This is everything from setting up a LinkedIn account to an email address and a blog.

“Our clients really enjoyed the programme and we got some good feedback from Jobcentre Plus.

“It’s important people have this online identity because employers use digital to recruit, starting with an online application form and going right through to looking at people’s online identity via Google.

“If that online identity is nothing more than some pictures taken at a party, it doesn’t create the impression someone needs to gain employment.”

Tom Plumb, 58, of Saltburn, took part in the Hotspot for Jobs project.

He said: “I learnt a lot of things on the course about how to use a computer and how to use it to help find jobs.

“It was hard work but I was pleased to take the course and it’s given me a better understanding of what employers are looking for.

“Creating a CV was part of it, so I’ve got that online now. And the course has helped me to access a wider system of places to find jobs.

“I’m a support worker for people with mental health problems, as well as having mental health problems myself, so it gives me the opportunity to pass on some of the knowledge I’ve gained.”

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