An incredible one in five Dorset residents are offline – many because they lack basic knowledge and confidence. Would you or someone you know like to discover how using computers and the internet could improve your life?
Residents in the Dorchester and Weymouth areas are invited to drop by Dorchester Library and Learning Centre on Wednesday 16 July, between 9:30am and 1pm. Enjoy some tea and cake and learn how to get online with Superfast Dorset Digital Champions.
Digital Champions are volunteers from the local community who share knowledge and experience to help people improve their computer skills.
Find out how to browse your favourite hobbies, keep in contact with family and friends, or save time and money by shopping online. Meeting with a digital champion could open up a new world of possibilities.
Wendy Maggs, Digital Champion project officer for Superfast Dorset and Skills & Learning said, “Skills like navigating the web, or even turning on a computer, make some people very nervous. We want to empower these people to take their first steps on the internet and realise how useful it is.”
Superfast Dorset’s Digital Champions project is part of a national effort to bridge the digital divide. And as technologies advance and more public and private services move online, being connected is essential.
“Life can be quite hard for people who might be excluded or isolated due to their age or background. And they’re often the ones who really could benefit most from being online,” Wendy said.
Superfast Dorset is providing access to faster, more reliable broadband in many villages in and around Weymouth and Dorchester this year, including Abbotsbury, Maiden Newton, Martinstown, Preston, Puddletown, Upwey and Warmwell.
Dorset Partnership for Older People Programme (POPP) will also be at the library on 16 July to tell residents about keeping active, finding support and safety in the home.
The event is also open to those wishing to learn how to become a digital champion to help others in their community. Please contact Wendy Maggs on 01202 262300 if you are interested in helping on the day.
If you or someone you know would like to meet with a digital champion, drop by and see the difference it could make.
