The impact we make when we give back

At MSQ DX, we believe our people should have the time and support to give back to the causes that matter to them. That's part of why we introduced five charity days as part of our benefits, giving everyone the chance to put their time and skills to good use outside of work. Two of our team, Ben and Georgia, have done exactly that. Here, they share what it's meant to them and the difference it's made in their communities.

Giving back with tech: my volunteering journey with AbilityNet

A few years ago, I went looking for a way to help my community and stumbled upon an opportunity that not only allowed me to volunteer but also let me put my day job skills to good use.

AbilityNet, a charity helping disabled and older people get the most out of technology, turned out to be the perfect fit. Since then, I have volunteered as a Tech Volunteer in the Yorkshire area, and it has become one of the most rewarding parts of my life outside work. It has also shaped how I approach my career. Working in Quality Assurance and Product within the digital sector, I know that around 25% of the community requires accessible web and seeing first-hand how real people use websites and apps gives me insights I would not get otherwise. It helps me make better choices for our customers and brings a level of real-world understanding to my work that is hard to replicate any other way.

How it fits around a busy job

One of the things I appreciate most is how flexible the role is, and that would not be possible without the support I get at MSQDX. Flexible working means I can plan my volunteering visits around my job without any stress or juggling, typically one or two a month.

How the process works

My local AbilityNet region co-ordinator assigns client requests based on proximity. I can accept or decline depending on my availability and confidence with the technical need, so there is no pressure to say yes to everything.

I arrange each visit directly with the client myself, and I usually aim to get the home visit booked in within one to three weeks of the initial phone call. It is a relaxed process, and clients are almost always lovely to speak to and are genuinely looking forward to your home visit.

A volunteer visit in the life of

The tasks vary enormously, which is exactly what keeps things interesting.

Here is roughly how a visit unfolds:

1. Commute to the client's house, usually no more than 25 minutes from home.

2. Introduce myself, take some time to put the client at ease, and ask how I can help.

3. Spend between 45 minutes and an hour with the client.

4. Have a good old chat along the way, tech is often just the starting point for a nicer conversation.

5. Leave clear notes or step-by-step instructions so the client can easily continue using their tech as shown.

6. Often arrange a follow-up visit before I leave, or a call back to see how the client is getting on.

To give you a flavour of the actual support I provide, here are some real examples from recent visits:

• Setting up an Alexa for an elderly couple with severe visual impairments

• Showing a lady how to access her online physio appointments via Microsoft Teams

• Demonstrating how to use Microsoft Word to create a CV template

• Setting up a new mobile phone after the old one could no longer be updated

• Creating a Tesco account and placing a first online grocery order for a lady with a severe spinal disability who is unable to get to the shops herself

• Helping a 94-year-old update her Ocado account after receiving a new bank card

• Updating laptop software and subscribing to Microsoft 365

• Logging into a new smart TV and making sure subtitles and remotes are working properly

• Adding saved contacts to a landline phone

• Accessing emails, the one-time codes and multi-factor authenticators are a consistent pain for clients!

No two visits are ever quite the same, which is exactly what keeps it interesting.

Why it is worth doing

Volunteering has also given me real insight into how inaccessible the digital world can be for people who have not grown up with technology, and helped me build patience, active listening, and the ability to explain things clearly.

But the best part, without question, is the people. I have built real, meaningful connections with clients along the way, something I did not expect when I signed up.

Where I am now

To date, I have helped around 15 individuals with their home technology over the course of 18 months. I have kept in touch with several of them, with regular visits now part of my routine, and there is always something new to help out with.

A great time to get involved

MSQDX has recently introduced five charity days as part of our benefits package, making it easier than ever to volunteer for causes that matter to you. If you have ever thought about giving back with a skill you already have, whether that is tech, admin, or something else entirely, I would encourage you to look into it.

It does not take much time, the commitment is flexible, and the impact on someone's day can be huge. If you are interested in signing up, you can find out more and register at AbilityNet's volunteering page, or feel free to have a chat with me directly.

And if you know someone, perhaps a family member, friend, or neighbour, who could use some help with their technology, they can call AbilityNet's helpline on 0300 180 0028. Their friendly, knowledgeable staff will discuss any kind of computer problem and do their best to come up with a solution. They also have free online resources from factsheets, blogs, and webinars to help older and disabled people with digital skills. 

Ben Glover - FuturePlus

Through the FuturePlus programme, I delivered a one-hour after-school session for MSQ DX, reaching 42 students across 4 schools in Leicester. The students were in Year 10, at schools that don't always get the same access to career role models and opportunities, which is exactly the gap FuturePlus is designed to close.

The session covered an icebreaker, an introduction to my own career path and role as a Senior Front-end Engineer, including sharing my experience with Dyspraxia and Dyslexia. From there, we moved into a team activity and an explainer on Agile and sprint working, before I gave the students an overview of different tech roles and some practical tips for anyone considering a career in engineering. I followed FuturePlus's session design guidance throughout, on structure, inclusive language, and interactivity.

A day in the life

Here's roughly how the day unfolded. I worked my usual day until 1pm, then travelled to the local school, arriving in good time to get set up before the students arrived.

By 2:30pm, I was ready for the event, briefing the presentation with the school's careers liaison and a member of the Leicester University FuturePlus team, running through how the session would flow.

At 3pm, I ran the presentation for the students, covering the count up icebreaker task, the tennis ball game, and the job role and job description activity, keeping things interactive throughout.

At 4:30pm, we had a short debrief on the event with the careers liaison and the FuturePlus team member, talking through how it had landed, before I headed home at 4:45pm.

Impact

Overall, the session had a few key outcomes:

• Gave 45 students direct exposure to a real industry professional and a career pathway in tech, supporting the programme's goal of building confidence and engagement with STEM

• Modelled that a tech career is accessible regardless of background or learning differences, directly relevant to students from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds

• Delivered the content in an accessible, inclusive way, aligned with FuturePlus's guidance, and made sure it was relevant to students at the exact stage, GCSE options, they're currently facing