Stephen so switched-on to learning

A FORMER binman who aims to get more people off the unemployment scrap heap by making them more techno-friendly needs the public’s votes.

Stephen Hewitt is striving to become a digital hero in order to win a £5,000 grant, to be pumped back into the community.

The learning co-ordinator’s vision is everybody should have the opportunity to learn new skills, especially on the computer, for free.

Based at the Moorhey Street Depot Learning Centre in Oldham, Stephen (45) said their equipment is “on its last legs” for the available IT and Skills For Life courses.

Strength
If crowned the North-West TalkTalk Digital Hero, he said: “The grant would go towards buying desktop computers and improving the learning centre.

“It is not just people out of work we support, we help people who simply want to learn new skills.

“We hope we can provide an opportunity for people and it would not have been possible without Oldham Council embracing what we do here.”

Originally working on the bins for about 18 years, the Springhead resident moved into a health and safety role, which then led to him noticing a demand for computer and literacy courses.

He said: “In the early days we used to use a canteen at the Moorhey Depot as a classroom, but then through acquiring a room through the council at the centre we have gone from strength to strength.

“Four years ago there was no training like this through the council. But since then we have had 500 people come through the council route alone.

“That does not even take in the amount we have helped county-wide.”

Stephen is down to the final three for the grant, which recognises outstanding people who are using digital technology to bring about positive social change.

You can vote for his cause online at www.talktalk.co.uk/digitalheroes.

To find out more about the courses, you can phone Stephen on 0161-770 3343, or email stephen.hewitt@oldham.gov.uk.