We all know someone who could use some help with their digital skills – whether it’s Grandad wanting to find out more about his train collection or next-door neighbour Joan hoping to order her weekly shop online.
This October we’re supporting Good Things Foundation’s annual Get Online Week and encouraging you to spend an hour during the campaign, 17th – 23rd October, helping a friend or relative to #TryOneThing online.
Nearly 1 in 5 adults lack the basic digital skills needed for everyday life and following the COVID-19 pandemic, the divide between those online and those not, has never been greater. The Get Online Week initiative launched 14 years ago to bridge that gap, and last year the campaign reached over 30,000 people, with hundreds of community organisations taking part.
Get involved
- Arrange a time and place best for you both. Remember if you’re using public Wi-Fi to remind your friend to keep their personal details safe.
- We all learn best when we’re interested in the topic so ask your friend what they’d like to learn and how they’d like to use the internet. It could be anything from setting up an email address to checking the weather forecast!
- It’s a good idea to use the same device when training that your friend will use when you’re not there. That way it’s familiar to them and they can follow the same steps you’ve shown them.
If you’d like some extra help, tips and guidance on helping someone get online the Learn My Way website has downloadable guides and handy checklists to support you, you can even register and save the progress of the person you’re helping.
What comes next?
If your friend/ relative enjoyed learning how to do things online, they might want to think about improving their skills further with a face-to-face digital skills course or training online.
Durham County Council’s Durham Learn Team offer a range of short, fun, and interactive learning sessions that will support you to improve your employability, communication skills and confidence. See Durham County Council Digital Skills courses for more information.
The Make It Click website allows people to build on the basics with guidance on a range of topics from using online calendars and spreadsheets to setting up social media.
