Following #socialprescribingweek, these picture sum up for us what both formal and informal Social Prescribing can look like in the community.

Helping an unpaid carer navigate many barriers and challenges with both digital technology and ‘the system’, our Community Tech Support Drop Ins are situated right where people are already seeking support, respite through the day or seeking connections.

The Platform Café and Loughborough Farm are not only perfect but NECESSARY partners for this work, providing the space, nutrition and a welcome to the spring ahead.

The mighty fine Lambeth Larder is ever-present providing access to broader information, advice & guidance directly for resident and for organization working with those in need.

Our Community Tech Support drop-ins provide digital support, access to fixing, provide a quiet and friendly space to practice and have a little time to learn something new. Many stop for a cup of tea and continue to come back.

By giving people the time and space to understand their challenges and a gentle push we believe that Community Tech Support is a crucial local service to help people be more digitally included.

We work to 3 principles

• Support is best placed where residents are already receiving other help or participating in activities.
• Small group and peer support, not only motivate, but can provide the best environment to learn new things or to get organized without it being too overwhelming.
• Traditional places of learning and ‘shiny new’ libraries can be intimidating.

It’s not surprising that many of our beneficiaries are directly referred by GPS, linkworkers, community builders, Mutual Aid, food banks and libraries across Lambeth, Southwark & Croydon.

We look forward to developing new relationships within the community network with BIG news beginning with ‘B’ coming very soon ……

We are at the following spaces every week:

• Tuesday 1.30- 30 Age UK Croydon, Thornton Heath
• Thursday 10.00 – 12.00 Platform Café, Loughborough Junction
• Friday 10.00 – 12.00 Upper Norwood Library Hub, Crystal Palace

Feel free to pop along with your questions or challenges!

If you would like to host one of our drop-ins in your Community Space – then contact us

We have been busy designing a new program which focuses on the fundamentals of getting online via a 6 week in-person course,  additional by additional online Zoom training and a new bi-weekly Zoom class to help find out about all the other local online activities you can access for free.

Not only that, you can access a device and data allowing you to participate.

For the last 2 and a half years we have specialised in working with older people, vulnerable adults and carers to help develop the skills they need.

We recognize that whilst there has been a lot of publicity surrounding the internet and being online during the pandemic, there are still many people who are still starting out or just to go over the basics again to be more confident in an informal environment.

So Connect Up is our stepping-stone course!

Supported by the Good Things Foundation and the Scheinberg Relief Fund our 6 week programme will also be supported by the re-launch of our online Zoom: Learning and practising the basics classes as well as a new bi-weekly Zoom class Community Connect which will be places to ask digital questions, practise zoom and to also find out about other local zoom class and activities.

More info to follow!

Our first course will commence Wednesday 2^nd March 10.00-12.00 at the Upper Norwood Library Hub and will run for 6 weeks.

This is suitable for beginners, those who may have used email a few times or attended some Zoom classes but aren’t very confident.

You can use a tablet or laptop for this course – we do have some to loan.

If you would like to sign up or speak to someone about this then contact us here or by phone on 07523 646 277.

Following a second round of funding from the Lambeth Digital Inclusion fund, we have another batch of laptops we can loan to local residents in need of an extra laptop or a stopgap until a replacement is found.

Our laptops are available for short 1 or 3 month loans and can be useful for households needing one for schooling purposes, to conduct online learning or to improve job search.

Priority will be given to applicants requiring assistance with schooling or young people looking for work.

Extra support for the laptop will be provided if needed.