Blog Archives - ClearCommunityWeb

#GetOnlineWeek returns for 2026

Oct 20, 2026

It’s that time of year when the digital inclusion sector gets together to raise awareness about the challenges and impact of digital access: #GetOnlineWeek

Whether it’s access to devices, skills support or services we’ve been long advocates of a digital inclusion first approach which means maintaining non – digital pathways for critical support, proving choice and an understanding that people’s ability

It often feels as if the focus on what people cannot do or access; an otherness that assumes little responsibility by poor service design or implementation focussed solely on cost savings.

Thank you to the Good Things Foundation for driving this forward again and of course dear friends at Digital Unite.

As part of our Get Online Week activities we expect to see over 150 people this week, through our regular schedule of Digital Drop Ins, sheltered housing scheme support and community places workshop across Croydon, Bromley, Southwark and Lambeth.

We are also running 2 information sessions to introduce the Google AI Professional certificate; supporting people develop their workplace skills.

Autumn is the time to learn things digital with ClearCommunityWeb!

Oct 17, 2026

As the Autumn weather starts to arrive and we prepare to turn the clocks back you may be looking for a distraction.

What perfect time to come along to one of our regular workshops. This month we are covering a range of subjects from Securing your online accounts (Peckham), Optimizing your mobile phone (Kennington & Central Croydon) and Being Safe on WhatsApp (Ashburton)

We also have a new programme starting to sport people with AI skills in the workplace. If you want to learn more about how these skills can help you as well as local support available, then sign up to one of our information sessions here.

And finally, we recently returned to Upper Norwood Library Hub, and curated an afternoon of talks, conversation and hands-on help for local residents who want to feel more confident using digital health services. Read more about our Managing Your Health Online, Today here.

Managing Your Health Online, Today

Oct 17, 2026

What we learned at the Upper Norwood Library Hub

We recently returned to where it all began: Upper Norwood Library Hub, and curated Managing Your Health Online, Today, an afternoon of talks, conversation and hands-on help for local residents who want to feel more confident using digital health services.

More than 40 people came along to the talks. Six people also had one-to-one support to set up the NHS App, so they can now book appointments, order repeat prescriptions and view their health information from their own phone.

We love to create safe and supportive spaces for residents to get to grips with a change to the way they can interact with services and the results were undeniable:

90% learnt something new
76% improved their confidence
73% felt more able to manage their health online
73% built positive relationships from the event
73% know more about other local activities
70% felt part of their community

We also heard from the Paxton Green Time Bank and Pantry about their inspiring work bringing neighbours together and supporting people in the community as well as Age Uk Lambeth and Healthwatch Lambeth.

Digital exclusion is a health inequality

Health services are moving online. Booking a GP appointment, getting a prescription or reading test results increasingly depends on having a device, a connection and the confidence to use them. The people who are least likely to have these are often the people who most need health services. That makes digital exclusion a health inequality, not just a technology issue.

We believe the most lasting way to tackle it is through people. When someone learns alongside neighbours, gets help from a friendly face, or hears about local activities from their peers, their confidence grows and they become more connected. Social and peer connections increase inclusion.

Thank you to Upper Norwood Library Hub for hosting us and being such a welcoming home for this work.

NHS App engagement with Healthwatch Bromley

Sep 26, 2026

A pleasure to contribute at the recent Healthwatch Bromley engagement about the NHS App and MyChart. Joined by colleagues from SEL ICB, King’s College Hospital, and Bromley Trading Standards at the Penge East Community Centre, it was an opportunity to bring different strands together to understand how to manage your health online.

For too long, I’ve raised the issue of the focus being so much on the NHS App, as opposed to supporting people to manage their health and health information online more broadly.

This makes it harder for people to differentiate between managing primary and hospital care, and to understand why there are multiple apps to do so. Every challenge gets compounded into an issue with the NHS App, rather than a data-sharing or system integration issue.

While this distinction is broadly irrelevant to someone who just wants to get things done, it’s crucial to bear in mind — whether troubleshooting a technical issue or encouraging people to use the features that will actually be useful to them, rather than focusing on what can’t be done.

Many of the issues people face are more about how they interact with technology, how their accounts were set up, or being rushed into doing something without the time to explore it for themselves. This includes things like swapping between apps to get a 2FA code, the fact that many households share a single email address, or being locked out of accounts — all the stuff that happens before they even get to use the app.

It’s a good reminder to the digital inclusion sector that the support we provide is often about these foundational skills, and that we need to work on encouraging people and being easy on simple mistakes. This is best illustrated by showing that this stuff goes wrong for all of us — it certainly does for me.

Community-based support is integral to the adoption of systems like the NHS App. These “bits between the bits” aren’t observed or necessarily covered by the NHS App, MyChart, or any other support desk — so truly supporting the VCS, and understanding what they do, is a must.

Kudos to Orla and the rest of the team at Healthwatch Bromley for shining a light on some of this, and for namechecking us in their recent report.

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Manage your health, today!

Sep 8, 2026

Come and join us for an afternoon to learn how to navigate digital apps to manage your health better, be more confident making appointments and connect with a range of different community groups in the local area to get you moving, fit and healthy.

Whether it’s using the NHS App, booking appointments, ordering prescriptions, or accessing services online, this session offers step‑by‑step support in a relaxed, supportive environment.

✅ Learn how to use the NHS App

✅ Get help accessing GP and health services online

✅ Apps to help with weight loss, smoking cessation & drinking

✅ One-to-one support available

✅ Connect with community groups

This session is ideal for anyone who wants to feel more independent and confident managing their health online.

🗓️ Wednesday 23rd September 2026

⏰ Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

📍 Location: Upper Norwood Library Hub, 39 Westow Hill, Norwood, SE19 1TQ

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/uppernorwoodlibraryhub/2324954

Back from Summer Hols and time to boost your digital skills!

Sep 3, 2026

We are back after the summer with our regular Digital Drop-In schedule as well as some new workshops to help build confidence with your mobile phone or learn new ways of accessing your pension information online.

We are super excited to announce an event in partnership with the Upper Norwood Library Hub called “Manage your health, today” where you find out about different apps to manage your health, access individual support and connect with local community groups to keep you active.

This month we will also be back at Ashburton Park Hall, Croydon with a workshop to learn how to Optimize your mobile phone, which is perfect if your phone is running slow or has a life of its own (mine certainly does!).

Next up, we are at the Black Prince Trust, Kennington, with a workshop to introduce the HMRC App and how you can check your State Pension Forecast as well as a range of other things relevant to your tax record. We will be offering individual support to help set up and use this app.

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