Scot spent time with us here at the Turing Trust as a trainee. Having recently secured full time employment, we’re taking a look back at where his journey with us began and how his time with us has helped him get to where he is today.
A new chapter
Scot’s interest was first piqued while watching The Imitation Game. After watching the film, Scot was eager to learn more about the life of Alan Turing, and in doing so, he came across the Turing Trust. Fast forward a few months, and Scot had a chance to meet with one of our team at the job centre and learn more about our trainee programme here in Edinburgh.
With a desire to learn new skills and a keen interest in the work we do, becoming a trainee seemed like a natural next step for Scot. And so his journey with us began.
I wasn’t really seeking anything other than knowledge, but I came away making friends, having knowledge and an improved mental state.
While Scot initially joined our programme to build his digital knowledge and learn new skills, it was our staff and other trainees that kept him coming back. He adds: “Before becoming a trainee I was extremely nervous and very reserved, but I can honestly say everyone has been so nice and welcoming. After the first day I had invitations to games nights, a BBQ and was even invited along to help fill the containers to be sent off to Malawi!
“The staff are just so welcoming and warm; they have a genuine interest in you and what they do, and it really shows!”
New connections, confidence and career
Since joining our trainee programme, Scot has made huge progress, from learning new skills and meeting new people to even building his own gaming PC. But for him, the experience has given him more than just new skills and connections; he adds: “Before joining The Turing Trust I had been jobless for about 14/15 years, living with daily depressive cycles and anxiety attacks; I had truly lost all sense of who I was as a person, who I was to myself.
“After joining The Trust, I started to find myself again. I didn’t tell anyone about my troubles, and yet people were more than happy to see me, talk to me and engage with me. Beforehand, that felt impossible.
“I now have a job doing Maintenance and Delivery for McDonalds. I fix what is broken (if it can be fixed) and help to bring in and store deliveries.”
Beyond his own development, Scot has seen the global impact of our work and the vital role our volunteers play in making it happen. Speaking on his experience, Scot adds: “My time as a trainee became less about me and more about the kids I was helping, allowing me to step aside from my own mind and troubles to better someone else’s life!
“There are still countless children whose potential is waiting for the chance to be realised in parts of the world where opportunity is limited or waning. The work at the Turing Trust helps close that gap by giving young people in need access to the tools they need to learn, create, and participate in an increasingly digital world.”
Helping others helps yourself. I have benefitted tremendously from volunteering at the Trust, and genuinely believe that anyone willing to take the first steps will too.
As a charity, we recognise that much of our work would not be possible without the support of people like Scot. Stories like his show the difference our trainee programme can make – not just for the people who take part, but for the young people around the world who rely on our support.
