Founded in 1984 ELATT is a charity based in Hackney that helps disadvantaged adults and young people succeed in life and work through to digital technologies.
Over 800 people studied at ELATT in 2012, of which at least 80% of people are unemployed. Getting them IT-ready is a key driver to getting them back into the workforce and they can be offered IT training, advice and guidance, equipment loan and specialist support for at-risk people such as lone parents, ex-offenders and refugees. Thirty three young people started Apprenticeships in 2012, 152 students volunteered or took up work experience and 204 people completed the year in paid employment, including 30 refugee and migrant women who moved into their first paid work in the UK.
Many of students said they could not access technology outside of the classroom – so ELATT developed an online learning environment and a Laptop Loan scheme. Now disadvantaged students can access the equipment and resources they need from home. Students also identified that addressing their digital skills needs was only one element of the support they needed to turn their lives around so Councillor’s Surgery now run on the premises to help give them a voice on local issues and feel part of the community.
