It was 2021, the country was in lockdown and everything in Simon Hobbs’ world had turned upside down.
Forced to give up his job as a primary school teacher due to mental health struggles, the then 50-year-old from Swanage had reached the lowest moment of his life.
But fast-forward two years later, thanks to amazing support from the NHS Mental Health team and one simple gift from Dorset Council, Simon is facing a far brighter future.
That simple gift was a laptop. That might not sound like much to most of us but that laptop – gifted through the council’s Digital Doorway scheme – made Simon’s dream of being a self-employed craftsman a reality.
And making crafts has been a life saver for the father of two.
Simon explained: “I have always been creative and into making crafts, but it was during this time I discovered just how much craft making helped me.
“Being able to immerse myself in making crafts was the healing process I had been looking for.”
Not only was craft-making key to Simon’s recovery, it also paved the way for a future career. But he needed digital help to get him there – and that’s where Dorset Council’s Digital Doorway scheme came in.
Digital Doorway gifts devices, such as laptops and tablets, to residents who are digitally excluded in some way. This could be through a lack of skills or confidence, or, as in Simon’s case, unable to afford a device.
After six months of being under the care of the mental health team, Simon’s recovery stage meant he was able to talk about his future career options and what he would like to do.
It was this conversation that prompted the mental health team to refer him to Digital Doorway.
“I told the team about my crafting and how I would like to develop that as a business but all I had was a very old phone and Chromebook,” Simon recalled.
“It was then that they told me about Digital Doorway and asked if I would like to be put forward for it – and I said most definitely.
“Now I have the laptop, I describe it as my Rolls Royce, it’s very precious to me. Without it, it would have taken a lot longer to get my business off the ground.
“The Chromebook was ok for day-to-day stuff, but it just didn’t have the software capability to help me develop my business online.”
After receiving the laptop, the first thing Simon did was create a website for his business, Foraged and Forged, using free software.
He has been able to sync his website to his social media accounts and create and upload videos and reels – so important in today’s world of digital marketing.
Simon began with making stone pendants and thanks to re-investing the money he has made from online sales and craft fairs; he has been able to buy tools that allowed him to create much more.
Thanks to his new tools he can now make wooden picture and mirror frames, candle stick holders and create intricate rings from teaspoons.
Building up a business is a slow process but there’s no doubt I wouldn’t be where I am without the laptop,” Simon said.
“I’m still on Universal Credit as I am not making enough money from my business yet, but everything is declared, and the aim is to make it my sole living.
“To succeed in a business like mine, you need a website, you need Instagram, you need reels – you need digital.
“The laptop is the horse that drives my business, I’ll forever be grateful for it.”