Cash boost to help Whitechapel young people’s advice centre teach digital skills

An advice centre for young people in east London has been given £3,000 to help those with special educational needs or disabilities to get to grips with digital technology.

The cash from the Carnegie UK Trust comes with a place reserved on its accelerator programme for Tower Hamlets Young People’s advice centre in Whitechapel with ‘start-up’ help to develop projects and ideas.

“The grant means those we work with will be able to navigate the modern technological world better,” the centre’s Charlotte Latimer said. “Our goal is to help them find the right support to achieve their goals.”

The advice centre is one of six projects selected by the trust which can now apply for a further £40,000 and a full year’s support from technology mentors to run their project.

Carnegie Trust’s Douglas White said: “Technology is now a fundamental part of everyday life. But we mustn’t assume youngsters have the skills to navigate the digital world just because they’ve grown up in the digital age. Many need help to take advantage that technology brings.”

The accelerator was set up by the trust to give organisations like the advice centre the resources to develop “digital inclusion” projects for vulnerable youngsters.