Brendoncare Otterbourne Hill’s Digital Café celebrates first birthday
Brendoncare Otterbourne Hill’s digital café, set up to help older people get online, has celebrated its first birthday.
The fortnightly café offers tech support and information, which is provided by its team of volunteer digital champions.
Explains Sara Nicholls, Brendoncare’s Community Support Service Manager: “We are well aware that digital exclusion is a big problem in our society for older people. Ten million people¹ in the UK lack basic digital skills and 18%² of people aged 65 and over are not digitally connected.
“What we are doing is providing opportunities for older people to get help from our trusted volunteers. They have a wealth of knowledge and experience in IT.”
Sara adds: “With increasing essential services such as booking GP appointments and banking going digital, we are there to help older people feel confident about going online. At the same time, we are giving them the skills they need to spot potential scams.
Connected:
“We are very grateful to our digital champions for giving their time and expertise in helping our members become better connected.”
Such has been the success of the digital café, Brendoncare has just opened a second one at its community hub in Gosport. Also run by volunteers, it is open to anyone in the local community who would like to drop in and try it out.
The digital cafés are just one of the community services that Brendoncare offers older people. It also runs social clubs in Hampshire, online clubs for those unable to attend in person get together. Telephone support is also available to members who may be feeling isolated or are facing a life changing event such as bereavement.
¹ Diginomica: How 10 million UK workers lack essential digital skills for work, and women trail behind men
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