If you think everyone must be online by now, think again. Lots of people aren’t confident using the internet and are becoming increasingly excluded as the world we live in becomes more digital.
Superfast Dorset’s Digital Champion volunteers are working hard to change that in our county . . . and their support has now been shortlisted for a national Connected Britain Award.
Around 21% of people are either offline or are not confident using the internet – that’s around 150,000 people across Dorset.
We now have 70 Digital Champions with more being trained each month. They help people get online and work with them to make sure that they have the basic digital skills to use and benefit from the internet.
Our army of volunteers provide around 300 tutorials and help around 150 individuals each month.
Heather signed up for digital skills training and says using the internet has changed her life. After three sessions Heather was confident enough to manage email, use search engines and shop online.
We have worked with 86 people claiming Universal Credit, providing 101 sessions since April 2018. One of the learners couldn`t read or write and so was completely unable to use a computer to make the application. Our Digital Champion acted as both digital coach and scribe. Without this help, the learner would have been without any income.
Another common scenario is when one half of a couple, who did everything related to the internet, sadly dies. Their partner is emotionally vulnerable and suddenly finds that they can’t use the internet. Without passwords they can’t access email, household bills, their bank account and more.
Our Digital Champions are on hand to help. They offer emotional as well as practical support to re-set passwords, helping scores of people at an emotional time in their lives.
Digital Champions . . . we salute you!
