Give the gift of digital this Christmas 

With 10 million people struggling to get online through a lack of digital skills and a further eight million considering giving up their broadband or mobile data because of the cost-of-living crisis * – never has giving the gift of digital been so important. 

We are launching a Christmas campaign called #GiveTheGiftOfDigtal and you don’t have to put your hand in your pocket to make this gift. 

Not many people know this but there are lots of initiatives – both nationally and here in #DigitalDorset – to help people get, or stay, online. 

But why are we urging you to give your loved ones or friends the gift of digital? 

We live in an increasingly digital world, and this is only going to grow. Having broadband or mobile data is becoming as important as having electricity and gas. 

More and more essential services, like the NHS, are moving online. A recent national study (Lloyds Bank Consumer Digital Index Survey 2022) showed that the offline community were finding the NHS the hardest of all services to access. 

In just over two years’ time, the traditional telephone lines will be switched off and everyone will need broadband to have a phone service. 

And then we have the cost-of-living-crisis.  

Having broadband, devices or mobile phones might seem vital – but slightly less vital than food or heating. 

But what many people might not realise is that being digital and using online services can help save money. In fact, being online can help people save more money than what it costs. 

The Lloyds Consumer Index Survey revealed a manual worker with high digital skills can earn up to £442 more per month than a colleague in the same job who has low digital skills. 

People who are confident online tend to check their bank balance more often, save more and spend their money more effectively by searching for the best deals. 

And if you are unemployed, being digital and having access to devices will make looking for a new job or training much easier. 

So how can you #GiveTheGiftOfDigital this Christmas? 

We’re not asking you to give an actual gift. Instead, we are asking you to help raise awareness of all the various avenues that exist to help people be digital. That will be giving the gift of digital. 

Here’s how you can help: 

Do you know someone with low or no digital skills? 

Tell them about our volunteer digital champions. 

In Dorset, we are very proud to have an amazing team of volunteer digital champions who can provide advice face to face or over the phone. 

This friendly, kind and patient team of champions are happy to help with any digital enquiry – no problem is too big or too small. 

They can help people get to grips with their devices, show them how to do online activities like shopping or booking a GP appointment and help with online forms and setting up emails.  

Our volunteer digital champions hold bookable, FREE sessions in libraries and community centres across the county. 

People can also get help over the phone via our Digital Hotline – 01305 221048 – which is open Mon-Fri from 10am to noon. 

To find out where our volunteer digital champions hold face to face sessions and how to book, go to Volunteer Digital Champions – Dorset Council or call the Digital Hotline. 

Work in a front-line role in Dorset? You can help your customers get online. 

You can sign up to our FREE training programme, which will help you become an embedded digital champion within your workplace.  

For more information watch our video here: Be like Digital Norma – sign up for Embedded Digital Champion training today – YouTube 

Making digital more affordable 

There are schemes that can help people who are struggling to pay for their broadband or mobile data and places that offer refurbished devices at reasonable prices. 

Mobile data. The council’s digital team has teamed up with the Good Things Foundation charity to help people in digital need. 

We have sim cards with six months’ worth of data to give people. Recipients must be aged 18 and over, be from a low-income household and have no access (or insufficient access) to the internet at home AND/OR have no or insufficient access to the internet away from home. 

This giveaway is for data only so recipients will need to have an unlocked device. 

For more information all the Digital Hotline on 01305 221048 (Mon-Fri, 10am-noon).

And there’s also the national data bank scheme run by the Good Things Foundation: National Databank on the High Street this Christmas – Good Things Foundation 

Broadband social tariffs. It’s estimated a staggering 4 million people are missing out on cheaper broadband deals they are eligible for just through a lack of awareness. 

Many internet service providers offer what is called ‘social tariffs’ to people on benefits.  

Both OFCOM and Money Saving expert Martin Lewis have provided valuable information on how to apply for these tariffs: 

All you need to know about broadband social tariffs – Which?

Cheaper broadband and phone packages – Ofcom 

Discounted ‘social tariffs’ for those on certain benefits (moneysavingexpert.com) 

And if you’re not on benefits but struggling to pay broadband bills, call your internet service provider to see if they can offer an alternative package. 

Or, if you’re not tied into a contract, search for the best deals here: Compare Our Best Broadband Deals November 2022 | Uswitch.com 

Affordable devices. There are organisations across the UK that refurbish donated devices and sell them on at much reduced prices or donate for free. 

One local organisation, which has drop off points throughout Dorset, is Donate IT. You can donate your unwanted devices to them, and they will in turn get these to families in need. 

For more information go here:  www.donateit.co.uk  

Dorset libraries. Don’t forget libraries have FREE Wi-Fi and computers open to anyone to use. Find your nearest library here: Libraries – Dorset Council 

So, if you know someone who is struggling to get online, do one thing this Christmas, #GiveTheGiftOfDigital 

* THESE STATS ARE TAKEN FROM THE LLOYDS BANK CONSUMER DIGITAL INDEX 2022 REPORT