Well we didn’t expect this, Orpington!

Well we didn’t expect this, Orpington!

Feb 28, 2025

Well, we didn’t expect this!

On Monday, we hosted our Digital Horizons event to launch our new Digital Hub in Orpington.

We’ve been working there since November and getting to know the community. We now run Digital Drop-Ins every Monday as well as regular workshops to help people be safer online or use their mobile phone better.

We have developed a wonderful relationship with the primary care network and local GP practices and recently registered the project with the Good Things Foundation so we can also add sim distribution and access to devices to the offer – so what better time for a party!

We lined up a range of speakers from the local council, trading standards, NHS, Digital Unite alongside our team members, invited local partners to come and mingle and meet with the community including Age UK Bromley & Greenwich, Bromley Mencap, SEL Mind, Bromley Well, Citizens Advice Bromley, Home Instead, Bromley Experts by Experience and the Rotary Orpington District E-Club.

Throw in some refreshments and a raffle for a donated smart phone and Chromebook (Thank you Good Things!) we expected around 35 but were cautiously nervous as, let’s face it, it wasn’t the best of weather.

At about 1.45 I was called to the front entrance to support a wheelchair user who couldn’t get through the front door and saw a long queue going right round the block.

Wowsers!

I’d been happy with 20 people to be honest but didn’t expect the 200 that showed. What an amazing turnout and a huge thank you to all involved, especially the Rotary Orpington District E-Club who miraculously fed and watered everyone and, most importantly, made them feel welcome.

We are still recovering from this, but it does demonstrate that our approach of combining digital connectivity with social connections, sharing problems or challenges and peer support is a way of bringing along those at the sharper end of Digital Exclusion and having meaningful fun along the way.

Want to get digitally connected in Bromley?

Want to get digitally connected in Bromley?

Feb 23, 2025

Join us on Mon Feb 24 2025 at 14:00 at the Orpington Methodist Church for an afternoon of workshops & advice to launch our new Digital Hub and to connect with the local community.

We have the following talks and speakers:

  • “How can being connected beat loneliness?” Helayna, Bromley Loneliness Champion
  • “Being Safe from Scams” Beverley, Bromley Trading Standards
  • “Top tips for being safer with your mobile phone” Caspar, ClearCommunityWeb
  • “Online consultations made clear”- Catia, Digital First Change Manager (Bromley)
  • “Readiness: A sure fire approach to completing complicated online forms” Laura, ClearCommunityWeb
  • “How being a Digital Champion can help you connect and improve your own skills” Rashpal – Digital Unite

We also have information tables from the following partners Bromley Trading Standards, Bromley Council, Citizens Advice Bromley, Age UK Bromley & Greenwich, Bromley Well, Mind, Bromley XbyX, Orpington PCN, Bromley Health Champions, Orpington Rotary Club, Brenda’s Dynamic Day Care, Home Instead Bromley

This is for residents, groups & partners alike, so please come along and what see what this is all about and how we can work together.

REGISTER

It’s half term already and we have some new things up our sleeve

It’s half term already and we have some new things up our sleeve

Feb 15, 2025

We’re already mid-point through February and we are at half term so just a reminder that we will  not be running any Digital Drop-Ins or Online Services Support sessions until Monday 24th February  with the exception of Orpington Methodist Church (Monday 2pm-4pm) and Woodside Baptist Church (Tuesday 12.30-2.20) where will also be running out new ‘Being Safe Online’  workshop where we will be focusing on WhatsApp.

We have two big announcements to make:

On Monday 24th February we will  be hosting our Digital Horizons event at Orpington Methodist Church celebrating the launch of our Digital Hub. We will have a range of talks about being connected and being safe from Bromley Trading Standards, Age UK Bromley & Greenwich, NHS, Bromley Council, Digital Unite and yours truly.

If you are local and haven’t been along yet then it would  be good to connect and show you around our new space!

Secondly, we are collaborating with Upper Norwood Library Hub with an exciting new Art project around the theme: Equity in digital inclusion. We are  looking for people with views about what it means to be excluded digitally and struggling to access critical services. Over 3 afternoons in March the group will explore this subject area through facilitated workshops and contribute to an exhibition later in the year. No experience necessary and we are looking for a wide range of views, lived experience and the experience of people you care for

More info can be found here

A fresh (Digital) start for 2025

A fresh (Digital) start for 2025

Jan 19, 2025

Welcome to the new year and our exciting programme across South London to help you improve your confidence in using the internet and feeling safer online.

Our regular programme of Digital Drop-Ins and Online Services Support is back up and running across Croydon, Lambeth, Bromley & Southwark.

We are taking enquiries for our next set of courses in Thornton Heath, Brixton and Anerley which start in February and our Digital Awareness Online Programme happens every Tuesday in Zoom. Get in touch if you’re interested in either of these.

This week we see the start of our 2025 schedule of Mobile Phone Boot Camps at the Wellness Centre in Croydon and we follow on with our Being Safer Online series at Woodside Baptist Church focusing in Cookies!

Finally we are hosting a morning with ARCC to help you manage your health online and connect with your local community at the Brigstock Road Community Hub in the 27th January from 11am. More information is here

Can you build community connections in Croydon North?

Can you build community connections in Croydon North?

Jan 15, 2025

We are recruiting a full time Community Builder to work across North Croydon (including South Norwood, Norbury Park, Norbury and Pollards Hill, Bensham Manor and West Thornton).

You will identify, unite and help to develop individuals and groups to reach their potential, develop their ideas and enhance our local community. 

You will work in communities: bring partners together, share insights from people who are seldom heard and work across the locality to meet the priorities of the Local Community Partnership.  

The successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to connect people to bring about positive change, and a passion to help people overcome inequality and exclusion. 

So what is community building? This happens when people and organisations from across the community come together to envision how their ideal community should look. They then begin to develop plans to mobilise all of the community’s resources to achieve their visions.  

Community Builder will initiate conversations with residents in the community to identify and work with ‘Community Connectors’ to nurture community led activity and connect them with local assets. 

This is a fixed term contract up to 31st March 2026 with an immediate start. 

Some weekend or evening work may be required to ensure we are able to reach as many people as we can. 

Application Deadline: 9th March.

Job Description
Application Form

How to apply:

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ClearCommunityWeb are a local social enterprise helping people feel more confident and comfortable with technology through classes, workshops and individual support in the home. We primarily work with older people, vulnerable adults and carers in South London, both directly and through our network of local partners.  

We work closely with organisations such as Age Uk Croydon and Croydon BME Forum as well as grassroots VCS to identify where needs are and how we can meet them together.