Nov 15, 2025
We recently launched the new Croydon Central Library Digital Zone with a fun afternoon of workshops, talks and connecting with the community.
We were joined Barclays, BirdieBox, NHS, CALAT and the Library archives team presenting a range of subjects including Scam Awareness, a practical introduction to AI, using the NHS App, App to support dementia and accessing Croydon’s Heritage online.
There was also an opportunity to contribute to a Podcast on the day and showcase the facilities available
Over 60 people attended and it was a great way bring the community into this fantastic new space.
From January we will be running a programme of activities every Thursday, throughout the day, including our community learning programme, digital drop ins , volunteer and frontline staff training as well as critical support.
We will be using the space to explore all facets of digital inclusion and to truly understand the needs and challenges of the community whilst providing a platform to run focus groups and to help inform services.
Watch this space
Nov 15, 2025
Digital Horizons returns to Orpington Methodist on Monday 1st September 2pm-5pm
When we first launched this community event, in partnership with Orpington PCN, we saw a fantastic turn out from both the community and local groups wanting to learn more about digital skills, to build confidence and to connect with their neighbours.
So more of the same please!
This time we have a fantastic range of speakers include Barclays, BirdieBox, ClearCommunityWeb and Southern Rail covering the following subjects:
- Scam awareness
- A practical introduction to AI
- Booking assisted travel
- Using apps to manage dementia and memory loss
- Managing your health online
- How to access free data and donated devices through local schemes
There will be free refreshments and a chance to win a smart phone or chromebook through our raffle.
BOOK HERE
Nov 5, 2025
It was fun to run our first Digital Horizons event in Lambeth with a strong turn out of over 56 local residents as well as volunteers and community partners to celebrate both the International Day of Older People and Cyber Awareness Month at WeAre336.
We had key talks on range of digital subjects including ‘Using Apps Safely’ and ‘Top Tips with the NHS App’ from ClearCommunityWeb, Scam Awareness from Barclays, BirdieBox and using apps to support people with dementia, Met -Engage courtesy of Lambeth Neighbourhood Watch and using technology to help manage MSK and long-term pain from Ben Wanless at St Georges Hospital.
A key note from Cllr Donatus Anyanwu really helped to bring the voices from the community into the room.
Helping people feel connected and to be safer was definitely a theme as well as seeking ways to support each other – and what better than through the end of digital – let’s face it a subject where it is impossible to know it all and a guarantee that we all mess up at least once along the way 😉
Events such as these are key and critical in support people who are digitally excluded feel part of thr equation and for others to develop their own skills and confidence to support in the community.
This is why we exist. Simples!
Thank you so much to Lambeth Public Health for supporting this event and to all the contributors in no particular order
Oct 14, 2025
Over the last year plans have been in place to refurbish the first floor at Croydon Central Library into a Digital Zone. A fantastic new facility including an events area, classroom and podcast studio.
We will be curating a programme there including drop in support for resident, community learning, awareness raising workshops and our new training for frontline workers and volunteers.
We help to launch the space with our Digital Horizons event on 23rd October as part of Get Online Week and Cyber Awareness Month
The Croydon Digital Zone project was funded by the Libraries Improvement Fund (LIF) from The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The Libraries Improvement Fund (LIF) is administered by Arts Council England. Funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and Community Infrastructure Levy extended the refurbishment to the operational first floor.
https://news.croydon.gov.uk/mayor-perry-listening-to-croydon-19-september-2025
Oct 14, 2025
This weekend I participated in the annual Crime Prevention Day hosted by Croydon Neighbourhood Watch. Its an important calendar event bringing together Croydon council, police, trading standards, Fire Brigade to explore community safety within the Borough.
As a committee member and Cyber Ambassador my focus , as ever, was to make people aware of new trends and explore ways in which we can support each other as ‘Neighbourhood Champions’.
I focused on Sim Swap Fraud as well as the recent BBC documentary The Sextortion Killers which focused on deconstructing how real time impersonation is enabled through AI directly through to a live chat on SnapChat.
On a positive note we looked at Ask Silver and Daisy the AI Granny from 02 – who has been a hit wherever we have taken her 😉
We also presented the referral pathway we are working on to provide in person support for those surviving cyber crime or believe they have been compromised. This will look to link ActionFraud and the MET to community partners such as ourselves and the Cyber Helpline from one direction and Neighbourhoord Watch, statutory services and the charity sector from the other.
We support people with recovery plans and the means to be able to build their own cyber resilience in a supportive environment over a cup of tea.
In many respects we view this as the pastoral care side of things – something that requires a guiding hand, lots of listening and time.
For many people the anxiety surrounding either a cyber crime or the fear of it is simply too overwhelming and we have observed that this along can put people at risk.
The day was also an opportunity to launch ‘ClickSafe, Stay Strong’ a new initiative, in partnership with Renee at Croydon Community Leaders, to develop an awareness campaign and workshop resources to tackle online exploitation and cyber bullying for young people across the Borough – watch this space!
Last, but not least, another opportunity to connect with Barclays and the Scam Bus. Beth and Bernadette do a tireless job keeping people informed and better able to spot scams.
