SEVEN Hartlepool organisations have been awarded grants totalling more than £28,000 to help improve computer skills.

Performing arts charity Red Dreams, Hartlepool College of Further Education, disability user group Incontrol-Able and The West View Advice and Resource Centre were granted £5,000 each by the Northgate Community Fund.

The fund, which is supported by Northgate Public Services and Hartlepool Council, aims to improve IT skills and digital awareness.

A spokesman for The West View Advice and Resource Centre said: "Along with our partners on the Hapen network we are absolutely delighted to have been awarded the money.

"We are hoping to put on approximately 16 digital workshops across four locations from January to help people improve their basic computer skills and confidence."

Michael Slimings, director of Incontrol-Able, said: "We were pleased to be awarded the money. We just thought there was a gap in the market.

"We have set up the VIP project - it is for visually impaired people and it is about supporting them using tablets so they can access local information.

A further £1,400 was awarded to the Hartlepool Deaf Centre to put towards a ten-week digital training course and The Wharton Trust Annexe received £2,600 to help buy eight tablets.

The final grant was awarded to The Rifty Youth Project, which received £4,937 for IT equipment for their work at Manor Ward.

Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher, leader of Hartlepool Council, said: “Our agreement with Northgate Public Services has enabled some very good, worthwhile causes to be supported and this really is excellent news.

“We were very keen to ensure that there would be wider benefits to the town.

“The applications received met a broad range of needs within the local community and this money will provide opportunities to increase many people’s IT skills, which is very important in the world we live in.”

Joe Bradley, executive director of Northgate Public Services, added: “I am delighted to see that this Fund is going to so many good causes in the town and helping a wide range of people with different needs within the community.

“Improving people’s digital skills is a top priority for Northgate and I hope that we will really be able to make a difference to these groups’ skills.”

The fund will provide £40,000 each year for the next seven years.

A further £10,000 has been allocated as match funding with the Gus Robinson Foundation to provide a variety of awards for young people.