A new initiative from Belfast based WOMEN’STEC is offering women an opportunity to build practical AI skills for everyday life, work and future across six sessions.
AI for Real Life: Practical Skills for Home, Work and Opportunity is a supportive, jargon-free programme designed to help women use accessible AI tools to reduce everyday overwhelm, build digital confidence and take realistic steps towards employment, training, self-employment or income generation.
Funded by the UK Government’s Local Growth Fund, and supported through the Building Futures consortium led by WOMEN’STEC, delivered in partnership with Bolster Community, the programme will begin at WOMEN’STEC, 29 Chichester Avenue, Belfast, on Monday June 8, with sessions running from 10am to 1pm.
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To be eligible participants would typically be considered “economically inactive”, for example students in full time education, women looking after family and home including unpaid carers, those who are long-term sick or disabled, retired and those who are not currently looking for work opportunities and not claiming benefits.
The course has been developed for women who may feel that artificial intelligence is confusing, intimidating or simply “not for me”, showing how AI can be used in real life to support everyday tasks, family responsibilities, employability and future opportunities.
Speaking of the initiative Amanda Ferguson, programme coordinator, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing this 6-session course back again after a successful first run.
“Participants will learn how to use AI tools to help with writing emails, understanding letters, planning schedules, preparing for appointments, supporting children with homework, dealing with official bodies and managing the mental load of home, caring and family life.
“The programme will also connect these everyday skills to employability and opportunity, supporting participants to explore how AI can help with CVs, job applications, interview preparation, identifying transferable skills, confidence-building, self-employment ideas and possible income streams.”
The programme has been designed and will be delivered by Tina Calder, an experienced communications specialist and AI trainer from Entrepreneurs Unleashed.
“Whilst the business and entrepreneurial ecosystem is adopting and embracing AI and emerging technologies at lightning speed I'm seeing that at a grassroots level in communities people are being left behind,” she said.
“There simply isn't enough support for ordinary, everyday people navigating the challenges of modern times to learn not just the basic digital literacy skills but the ability to use large language models like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and Gemini or other GenAI tools to support them in being able to tackle some of the barriers they face.
“Economically inactive women, in particular, are a group of people who are very much being left behind whilst the world around them moves forward.”
Delivered in a relaxed, supportive and jargon-free environment, the training is focused on empowerment, not perfection, with participants learning practical tools they can use immediately to feel more confident, capable and in control of their next steps.
Tina added: “I am absolutely delighted to have been asked by WOMEN'STEC to design and deliver this series of AI for Real Life: Practical Skills for Home, Work and Opportunity sessions that will not only support the building of digital literacy but also help to demystify the world of AI, digital media and more.
“In our first series, we saw women not only building better CVs and creating plans for business ideas but also witnessed some using their newfound skills to advocate for their family, community or selves in situations where previously they would have felt lost, overwhelmed or ignored.
“With every 6-session block we work with the women in the room to curate and craft a tailored programme that works for their needs, builds confidence and opens new opportunities for themselves, their family and community.”
WOMEN’STEC is an innovative social enterprise based in Northern Ireland supporting women to explore career opportunities in sectors where female workforce participation is low, including construction, engineering and IT.
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Established in 1993, WOMEN’STEC works with unemployed and economically inactive women to address the barriers that prevent them from moving into employment, supporting them through trades skills training, employability skills, personal development and other support services.
The organisation delivers a wide range of practical and confidence-building courses designed to equip women with valuable life and work skills. Its programmes include DIY, plumbing, tiling, car maintenance, gardening, wood panelling, wallpapering, driving theory, DIY numeracy, ICT, personal empowerment and other training opportunities.
To book a place on AI for Real Life: Practical Skills for Home, Work and Opportunity, or for more information, contact Amanda on 07729100065 or email tina@tinacalder.co.uk over the weekend.
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