Meredith Markham was lured into her local digital learning ring three years ago by a sign advertising “Free Training.” Today she’s so confident with and inspired by technology that she works as a volunteer ICT tutor. Why?

“It’s education at the end of the day,” she says. “Whatever age you are you should never stop learning. People’s first thought is that the Internet is for illegal, negative stuff, but there’s so much that’s positive out there. We need to be able to tell people that they can go on the Internet and learn some English or Maths. People, lots of whose confidence has been knocked, walk in the door and say, ‘I’m really rubbish at Maths.’ And then they get pass mark first go. Most people underestimate themselves. The impact is dramatic. Until you take that first step you’re confidence doesn’t get to move any further up.”

Meredith says there are so many success stories it’s hard to highlight just one. “The other day someone come in with such low self-esteem and in a short time their confidence had risen so far. And I saw this lady now trying to help teach somebody else, whereas before they were shying away in a corner because they couldn’t do anything. All of a sudden they’re sitting there with their back straight. I love doing this. And I won’t leave. I can’t leave. I’m committed.”