Council initiative to get more residents online hits ‘golden’ milestone as more and more people sign up to help
Dorset Council’s digital champions initiative has achieved a notable milestone: it now has 50 volunteers on board as ‘digital champions’, to help others across the county to get online.
Lorena Sutherland and Chris Robinson, Dorset Council’s 49th and 50th volunteer digital champions, at Gold Hill in Shaftesbury
Of course, more and more of us use apps and websites regularly in our lives – for entertainment, for work, as well as for things such as accessing public services. According to the Online Nation report published in November by media regulator Ofcom, 94% of those aged 16+ in the UK have internet access at home. But that means there’s a significant number of people who don’t.
People also need access to devices with which to connect to the internet and they need the skills and confidence to use them. Tackling these challenges is important to closing the ‘digital divide’ and ensure that everyone can benefit from the advantages of tech.
Dorset Council is addressing this with its digital champions initiative. Across the county, volunteers hold open sessions in libraries and community centres that are open to anyone seeking help in using a digital device or getting online. The friendly and patient digital champions can also help answer specific technical questions.
Examples of the queries they help with range from online shopping and banking, use of apps, accessing public services and advice on how to save money and stay safe online.
Chris Robinson and Lorena Sutherland are the latest recruits to the digital champions team. They will be based at Shaftesbury Library for face-to-face sessions each Monday and Thursday. The bring the total number of volunteer digital champions across Dorset to 50.
Lorena is a web designer who has also worked for both central and local government. She says: ‘In my job I have seen first-hand the immense impact of digital exclusion and the barriers that can bring. I’m hoping I can help people overcome those barriers.’
Chris, an engineer with what’s now Openreach until his retirement last year, adds: ‘I always like helping people and I wanted to do my bit. I did a lot of coaching in my previous job and thought the time was right to give something back to the community.’
Cll Richard Biggs, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Property & Assets and Economic Growth at Dorset Council, says: ‘It’s fantastic news that we now have 50 dedicated volunteers who are helping our residents to get online. This is so important as more and more things become digital, including vital public services.
‘Our volunteers are very good at encouraging people to try digital and have some fun with it. We’ll always be able to help people whether they are digital or not but for anyone who would like more help getting online, our champions are ready and waiting to help.’
Photo courtesy of Dorset Council.
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