Craig has recently been promoted to Acting Digital & Wellbeing Coordinator. We spoke to him about his journey from the hospitality industry to working in the third sector.
Craig is part of our Reconnect team, working to support adults and families to improve wellbeing by increasing digital and social inclusion. He originally joined People Know How as a volunteer, going on to apply for the role of Digital & Wellbeing Worker, and has now been promoted to Acting Digital & Wellbeing Coordinator.
The journey to People Know How
After a conversation with Craig’s partner led him down a rabbit hole of learning more about the third sector and the possibilities of putting his knowledge in digital into practice in a new environment, Craig dove headfirst into a new opportunity. Previously, Craig had worked in the hospitality industry. While his love for food is still something he is very passionate about, he wanted to change his career path to utilise his knowledge in digital to help keep people safe online and make them aware of the pitfalls of technology.
Having left school at a young age, Craig wanted to break the stigma surrounding early school leavers and higher education opportunities. He pursued an undergraduate degree in Cyber Security and Networks, which he would eventually follow up with a Masters in Advanced Security and Digital Forensics while working at People Know How. Craig doesn’t let obstacles come in his way; during his initial deep dive into the third sector, despite having no previous contacts or experience, he reached out to Mhor Collective who sat down with him to have a chat about the third sector and organisations to look out for.
Craig wanted to volunteer to understand the practical side of the third sector and see where could he apply his skills. After finding out about People Know How, he volunteered as a Digital Support Volunteer and began attending our Easter Road digital group, helping those who attend with a variety of digital queries and putting the knowledge he had learned at university into practice.
Going the extra mile
Craig applied for a paid position in the Reconnect team as a Digital & Wellbeing Worker and joined People Know How in the summer of 2023. He is ambitious and goes the extra mile for those he supports both in one-to-one environments and at our digital groups; like Edward who he helped tackle the digital world and the challenges it presents in accessing support and essential services.
Not only has Craig been providing innovative solutions at our digital groups, but he has also been completing a masters degree in Advanced Security and Digital Forensics to continue to enhance his knowledge in the digital space and share this with his team. His work ethic and dedication to constantly improve have been recognised by his line manager as he has started the acting up process, taking on more responsibility within the Reconnect team.
Volunteering is a pathway to new opportunities. Before Craig started volunteering he had no previous knowledge of the third sector but wanted to discover a new challenge. At People Know How, we encourage our volunteers and staff to go the extra mile and make the most of their experiences. Craig is now one step closer to achieving his goals of impacting digital rights and looks forward to the next stage of his People Know How career.