Overview | Try IT – Digital Arts St Helens

The Try IT – Digital Arts St Helens project provides free training opportunities in digital arts & technology skills for adults (18+) in St Helens. 

These engaging and inspirational courses, delivered by expert tutors with industry experience, have been designed to enable participants to learn digital art skills and discover pathways into further creative training and careers.  Whilst offering an opportunity for people from the local community to socialise and learn new things in a supportive, creative environment the workshops will help to improve attendees’ emotional and mental wellbeing.

The Try It – Digital Arts St Helens programme spans two 4-week and two 9-week courses. Explore IT – Photo Editing Basics and Explore IT – Graphic Design Basics both consist of 4 weekly, 2-hour sessions and are a fun introduction for beginners to the topics.  Boost IT – Website Design Basics and Boost IT – Photo Editing Basics both comprise 9, weekly, 2-hour sessions. The Boost IT – Digital Arts courses are also for beginners, but are a more in-depth look into the digital arts topics that they cover, due to their 9-week duration.

The Try IT – Digital Arts St Helens programme, has been made possible thanks to funding from The Coalfields Regeneration Trust, an organisation solely dedicated towards regenerating former mining towns and industrial areas across England, Wales and Scotland.

Explore IT – 4 Week Courses:

The Explore IT – 4 Week Courses: Photography Basics and Graphic Design Basics will run from mid-January to early-February 2022. Eventbrite booking links for both courses are below (either click the infographics or the links below them). 

Boost IT – 9 Week Courses:

The Boost IT – 9 Week Courses: Photo Editing Basics and Web Design Basics will run from the beginning of March to mid-May 2022. Eventbrite booking links for both courses are below (either click the infographics or the links below them). 

Who is the project for?

Our courses are more than simply learning new skills – they are empowering, inspiring and have a much wider positive impact upon everyone taking part.

The Covid pandemic and lockdowns have been difficult for everyone, they have impacted upon everybody’s mental health with many people becoming isolated and lonely. The Try IT – Digital Arts St Helens project is designed to help people address some of the difficulties that we’ve faced over the past couple of years. Signing up to these courses, to learn new skills, will:

• Give you the opportunity for social interaction and communication with other people who have similar interests. 
• Help you to feel less lonely and isolated, by introducing you to new people in a relaxed environment. 
• Give you an opportunity to be creative and socialise with others, which can have a positive impact upon your mental health. 
• Help you to develop new skills & inspire you to try new things; building your confidence & having a positive impact upon your wellbeing.

These sessions are for anyone who is interested in digital art and technology, but doesn’t know where to start or has very little experience in them, but is keen to know more.

Eligibility

To take part you:

• Must be Aged 18+ 
• Must be from St Helens
• May be experiencing poor mental health 
• May be vulnerable and experiencing health inequalities
• May be lonely or feel socially isolated

You will need to have basic IT skills e.g. be able to operate a smartphone, be able to login to a computer; be able to navigate between multiple tabs on a computer – all other skills will be taught during our sessions.

Where? 

All the courses are in-person and are to be held at Wonderland CIC, Unit 4, Reflection Court, Canal Street, St Helens WA10 3JQ.

When?

The Explore IT – 4 Week Courses: Photography Basics and Graphic Design Basics will be running from mid-January to mid-February 2022.

The Boost IT – 9 Week Courses: Photo Editing Basics and Web Design Basics will run from the beginning of March to mid-May 2022 (with a two-week break for Easter school holidays).

Costs?

Due to all the places being fully funded by Coalfields Regeneration Trust, all of these courses are completely free of charge for the participants.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust

The UK’s leading charitable social enterprise that is dedicated to supporting residents of Britain’s former coalfield communities improve factors such as their health, wellbeing, and employment skills.