Over the last few months we have been working hard to expand our partnership work across Croydon, Lambeth and Southwark. It has been exciting to be involved is a variety of conversations with small charities, national organisation and house association alike and exploring ways in which the so-called digital divide can be crossed.
What is clear is that any considerable improvement or change requires hard work at a local level and a building of trust – key components in all the classes, workshops and 1 to 1 support we provide.
We are partnering with HomesForLambeth to run a pilot for some of their most isolated residents. Each will be loaned an iPAD and a series of 12 online support sessions to help them with the basics of using the equipment, searching for information online, making video calls and accessing other community classes and groups via Zoom.
We are calling these sessions “Digital Horizons” and will run a similar program more locally in Crystal Palace with e group of residents who have been granted Lenovo tablets.
It will be interesting to compare and then share the results of each.
Thanks to Southwark Council and Community Southwark we have recently received support to extend our community 1 to 1 tech support into the borough and we will be working closely with Kingswood Community Shop and Paxton Green Timebank to help some of their beneficiaries.
We are also excited about the prospect of taking our work to Loughborough Estate and extending our support to that part of Lambeth courtesy of Brixton Energy.
Finally, we have set up an account with TrustPilot to handle reviews of classes and workshops. A big thank you to those who have contributed and these can be seen here.
We’d appreciate more reviews so click here if you’d like to add one.
These will be distributed to 10 residents who fit the following criteria:
either self-isolated or classified as ‘vulnerable’,
have no internet access or means to acquire it
over 70 or on low-income
limited local social support
Each resident will participate in a short learning program designed to help then become more independent using things like video calls and searching for information. They will receive some 1 to 1 support to orientate themselves and be signed up to a self-learning program (LearnMyWay).
They will be supported to either watch or participate in the Crystal Palace Festival Online and agree to be interviewed about their experience during lockdown and what they have learned as part of the Audio time capsule project All Alone Together.
The device will be theirs to keep, but will be encouraged to participate in classes at the library either online and when the library re-opens with a tablet oriented digital inclusion class.
We have already identified a few people but have a few places left, so would like to encourage people to put their thinking caps on to see if there is anyone in their vicinity who would be eligible, and if so to contact me directly as we only have this week to get ‘bums on seats’!
Secondly, we are also looking for a couple of volunteers to become ‘buddies’ to these residents perhaps help distribute the devices, help someone to one support, on the phone or doorstep and help them practice video calling
Last week we ran our first Zoom. Learning the basics for Adults with Learning Disabilities or Autism class where we focused on navigating the Zoom interface, some tips for conducting yourself online and we had a little tour of some other classes and social groups using Zoom aimed at adults with an SlPD.
We are running this again this Thursdayand would encourage you to sign up early.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or need help getting Zoom.
Our Digital Skills for Seniors class reached a pinnacle of 14 people as we stated the first of a series of sessions focusing on social media. We have focused on Facebook the last couple of weeks and have spend time looking at local and interest groups, privacy settings and how to find someone.
It’s interesting discussing everyone’s point of view, and even seeing some changes as we ‘look under the bonnet’, and for some, show Facebook for the first time.
Finally, we are involved in a new project with the Upper Norwood Library Hub called All Alone, Together. Its an Arts Council Funded project which will see the development of a series of audio time capsules capturing the memories, thoughts and opinions of local residents during lock down.
If you are interested in taking part, then please complete the community survey here.
We’ve been working closely with other local charities to see how best we can help to get people online and to see some of the benefits this can bring. This partnership work is as central to what we do alongside our classes and One-to-One service.
Hope all is well with you. Its been a busy week and we were excited mark the fact we have helped over 100 people get connected online during lock down.
Our friends at #croydondigital published this article explaining our journey.
Following the positive response to our ‘hands on’ Zoom classes we have decided to extend the session and on the 18th and 25th June we have dedicated sessions for “Learning Disabilities or Autism“.
These are design to be fun and informative and to connect people with the valuable support and social groups they need.
We will also provide 1 to 1 assistance for need help downloading and installing Zoom ahead of the class.
2 new dates for the “Learning and practicing the basics” class have been set, so if you missed out n these first time around OR you have more questions then you can book you place here.
We have been busy trying to connect as many people as we can to their community groups, services and family. A combination of helping people access or learn to use their technology, signposting to crucial local services and listening.
A huge part of this is helping community leaders, case workers and facilitators with their digital skills so they have the tools to continue their crucial work.
With this in mind, we launched a new class – Zoom: Managing Meetings. This is aimed at those either starting to or looking to facilitate meetings of 3 or more people.
We cover the practical aspects of managing groups of different sizes and different skill levels, a tour of the settings, what it means to be a host and a co-host.
We then focus on Recording, Polls and Break Out Rooms.
This is not a webinar or a demonstration but an opportunity to experience some of these features as a participant and then try things out in a friendly group setting; make all those mistakes ahead of a ‘real’ meeting, get questions answered and learn together.
Our Learning and managing the basics class focusses on using zoom as a participant, we cover using the app, sharing files, using chat and reactions as well as meeting etiquette and we still have places if this is for you.
Lastly and importantly – the updated version of Zoom is being released at the end of the month. I’d advise everyone to ensure they keep Zoom (and all their apps ) up to date to ensure they utilise new security features and guard against hacking.
