Jamie Lucking-Firth, seen on the left in the above photo – taken on the day we started drop-ins in Redbourn, volunteered for us at our Redbourn drop-in from January 2024 to the summer of 2024 before going off to University.

Jamie said last week: “Just wanted to let you know that I just secured my industrial placement at BMW doing cyber security. I couldn’t have done it without the opportunity you gave me to help at computer friendly so thanks a lot for that!”.

Thank you Jamie for supporting us and the people of Redbourn. Good luck in your future career.

We were lucky enough to have Beth Fisher, Mayor of Harpenden attend our Christmas Drinks in the Harpenden Arms recently. Twice a year we honour one of our volunteers for their contribution with the Queens Award for Voluntary Services we won in 2020, which they can display at home. This time, Philip Le Riche – seen on the right – was being recognised for nearly 10 years volunteering with Computer Friendly in cyber security and PAT testing all of our own equipment and all the recycled devices we give away. Beth very kindly presented the trophy and then commented more generally:

“It was a pleasure to meet Harpenden’s own IT department! The breadth of knowledge and expertise is impressive and we are lucky to have volunteers who empower and enable people. This brilliant group has helped so many local people with issues that would otherwise prevent them from, for example, seeing a GP or communicating, making transactions and accessing information online. The virtual word can be intimidating for some and it can become overwhelming. It changes all the time! Apparently, nits are now a good thing to want lots of! This group helps to breakdown those barriers and assists with the use of tech, software and apps but also the repair and provision of machines themselves. I would not hesitate to contact them if you have a computer need or question. They are willing to help, as their name suggests, in a friendly and kind way.”

A HUGE thank you for your kind words Beth, they were much appreciated by all our volunteers!

Futher to a recent post about St Albans achieving “Age Friendly” status – see Age Friendly Status – Computer Friendly are proud to report that we successfully supported all 3 events at Alban Arena (22nd October), London Colney Caledon Centre (3rd November) and Redbourn Village Hall (13th November). Volunteers from our charity were available to answer questions about computer problems, what Computer Friendly do, our drop-ins and courses that we run from members of the public, other stall holders as well as local politicians who were there no doubt to see the ‘fruits of their labours’ in pursuing being awarded Age Friendly Status.

Computer Friendly at London Colney

Computer Friendly at Redbourn

St Albans District has recently acheived “Age Friendly” status – see https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/news/ (and extract below from their website)

The District now joins 100 other local authority areas which are also part of the growing movement.

To be accepted as a member, the Council had to demonstrate its commitment to providing Age-friendly services and create a District where older people are well supported.

This includes initiatives to involve older people in Council activities and act on issues such as loneliness and social isolation.

Membership is conditional on the Council continuing to engage with older people as it has been doing by holding a series of Age-friendly events.

Computer Friendly will be supporting all three of the Age Friendly St Albans District events this autumn in Alban Arena (22nd October, 10 am to 2 pm), London Colney Caledon Centre (3rd November, 10 am to 20pm) and Redbourn Village Hall (13th November, 9:30 to 11:30 am) so you are welcome to come along to any of these events and have a chat with us about what we do; the courses we run etc., and how you could participate as a volunteer, a user with a problem to solve at one of our drops ins or as a student keen to improve your skills and expand your knowledge.

Give Your Skills to a Cause You Care About!

• • • Helping find and welcome new volunteers;
    • Making sure new team members feel supported and well-trained;
    • Creating a friendly ‘buddy’ system for new volunteers;
    • Organising ongoing training and support for our current volunteers.

Ready to start?
Go to the Volunteers page and fill out the
‘New Volunteer – Initial Enquiry‘ form to get in touch.

Do you have laptop phone ot tablet you don’t need and would like to go to a good home?
As we update from desktops to laptops, laptops to tablets and tablets to phones, there are many devices under the bed or in the wardrobe! A laptop which cost £500 10 years ago is probably worthless today although shops such as CEX may be able to offer you a few pounds.

Computer Friendly has received nearly 700 donations of unwanted devices which our volunteers have refurbished and distributed to people who are in situations where they cannot access the internet or contact family and friends.

How do you know applicants are in genuine need?
Applications come as referrals from official organisations, such as St Albans Old People Trust, MIND or Schools, who expect the applicants to complete a form outlining why they need a device.

Do you take anything?
We cannot take printers, desktop computers, monitors less than 24″, peripherals such as keyboards or mice or laptops older then 6 years

How do you refurbish?
We remove and physically destroy the hard drive and all it’s data, replacing it with a modern SSD (Solid State Drive). We increase the amount of memory and install a copy of Window 10.

What happens if it is not possible to refurbish?
We dispose (having destroyed the hard drive) according to he correct WEEE rules.

What can you take?
Laptops: Macbooks, Windows and Chromebooks
Phones: Android and iPhone
Tablets: Android and iPad
Preferably with chargers.

Who do I contact?
Phone: 01727 617359 (Mon, Weds and Fri 10am – 1pm or leave a message at other times)
Email: courses@computerfriendly.org.uk

Thank you

In a break from our usual audience of ‘mature’ students, two Computer Friendly volunteers, Jean Pavan and Paul McMahon, attended Harpenden Academy to talk to a hall full of some very savvy 6 & 7 year olds about Staying Safe On‑line. Using resources available on-line from  saferinternet.org.uk Jean gave a 15 minute presentation about things to look out for, what to be aware of and what to do in certain situations. A follow-up 10 minute quiz by Paul was very well received with the students cheering loudly when it was revealed that the majority had voted for the correct answer. The final message to the children was given in this graphic from the presentation. Thanks to the Academy for their welcome.

(c) www.teachingideas.co.uk

Paul & Jean

Jean in full flow

As October draws to a close Computer Friendly have been supporting International Day of Older People in the St Albans area. Four events in total were planned in Wheathampstead (Oct 21st), St Albans (Oct 23rd), Redbourn (Oct 24th) and London Colney (Oct 28th) and Computer Friendly had a stall at each event getting our message out about the support we offer and the courses we run to people who need our support. Below is a photograph of our team at Redbourn.

International Day for Older Persons is a United Nations initiative from the early 1990s to respond to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the 21st century and to promote the development of a society for all ages.