“Digital Inclusion does not have to lead to Social Exclusion – Getting you Online to Offline community activities!

Volunteer Online Chum Mentors scheme was established in late 2017 following recognition of what digital peer support could have on our young people with a Learning Disability in getting them safely connected. Initially we provided one-to-one support where those with higher functioning were paired to those with little experience of access to the internet. This gradually shifted towards designing active learning programmes where mentors could facilitate those they were paired with. The major focus also shifted from a focus on Learning Disability to others living across the borough who considered themselves on the digital periphery. This included older, those disadvantaged because of poverty, ex-servicemen, children with a variety of ‘abilities’ and unemployed residents.

Our aims are driven by social goals, wanting to get people online to offline participation within their local neighbourhoods, while simultaneously taking control over their digital footprint > to increase their social circles support both virtual and physically within a safe space at our drop in and outreach services > promote and maintain independence in the home by taking control over online activities, especially those who are older with a reliance on traditional ways of accessing socially essential services.   Often individuals benefit from face-to-face contact, which is essential for general well-being and conducive to working together to learn about digital processes. This helps confidence and other personal development skills.

We have recently explored access to ‘Assistive Technology’ and looking at the variety of health and social care apps to meet a wider need alongside our Digital First Aid courses.

The current challenges (Covid19) we face at this time are certainly testing our resilience with many of our newer members requiring more intense guidance because we are now relying totally on providing help remotely. To those who have been with us for a number of years it is not so daunting, but many have difficulties following tutorials. This is why we registered with The Good Things Foundation in order to increase access to resources which would help to reach out to those on the digital periphery. The Learn My Way module is proving to be a hit with many because it can be self-taught with easy–to-follow steps, and to Digital Champions which has provided our volunteer peer support tutors with a stronger infrastructure made up of learning resources for sharing their digital skills.      Nevertheless, we are still finding challenges because of the lack of face-to-face contact especially now where help is needed to support those older residents who have found self-isolation difficult. This is where the Good Things Foundation has been supportive with webinars, which has helped us establish video conferencing for our beneficiaries who, I might add, have found this a great tool to seeking help from our volunteer Online Chum Mentors as well as access to Covid19 information.

Park View Project