As part of Circuit Riders, the delivery of computers into the community, we are fortunate to have volunteers from Matthew's Hub working with us providing their own IT skills and enhancing our project.
James, Joe, and Reon started with us in January 2017, and provide key input to the project while at the same time gaining valuable work experience.
The volunteers from Matthew's Hub have documented their experiences at Giroscope, and we invite you to read what they say.
"My name is James and I have a disability known as autism which means I find most things harder then other people do.
I am interested in computers and I volunteer here at Giroscope as an IT technician, involved in a variety of projects, a few examples would be: setting up computers, looking at old computers seeing if they still work, working on Giroscope's new website using Word Press and trying a lot of different things I haven't done before. I enjoy doing the different things I get up to here. Also I would like to add that from being at Giroscope I believe it has helped me boost up my confidence.
Matthew's Hub is an organisation for people who have autism but it's also for people who have Asperger's and on a Thursday night they do a social night and we do a lot of different stuff that we want to do but everyone who goes do different things such as PlayStation, Xbox, music, darts and also pool and they sometimes organise a bowling or a cinema night."
"My name is Reon, and I have a disability, Asperger’s Syndrome, which is a form of autism. This means that I find many things harder, as I think in a different manner, which can cause mis-understanding with unclear instruction or conversation, among other drawbacks; however, it also means that I have a small range of intense interests, and one of these interests is computers. I volunteer as an IT Technician at Giroscope, and as part of that I have learned many things beyond what I was taught on my Foundation Degree and prior, and I enjoy the hands on experience much more than simply writing about computer subjects and researching, before trying to explain it, which is extra difficult with my disability.
Matthew’s Hub is an organisation that provides support, and also found us this volunteer position here at Giroscope. They hold a drop in session on weekdays, except Thursday which is the social night. They provide a place for us to socialise without worry about what others may think and we talk about whatever we want, as well as extra support if we ask for it or need it, such as assistance with job searching, or further assistance for autism."
"My name is Joe and I am a Computer Science graduate from the University of Hull.
Since starting at Giroscope we have set up seven new computers as well as restored older ones from the dead. Also each of us have our own website that will be continuously updated over time. The latest project I will be working on is to develop an app which will enable information about who is turning up at Giroscope and what they are doing to be tracked and stored somehow.
I have always had an interest in IT and technology which is why I aim to eventually find a full time job in this field of work. My other interests include Xbox gaming, listening to music and sport, (especially football : I follow Hull City), Formula 1 and tennis. "
