A Brighter Future for Digital Inclusion
Published on 29 January 2025 01:14 PM
Age UK Isle of Wight has announced the expantion of its digital support sessions with the launch of new digital drop-in sessions. This revival comes after the charity's extensive digital support service ended on the 12th July 2024 due to the completion of fixed-term funding.
In July 2024, Chief Officer Maria Bunce reaffirmed the charity's commitment to digital inclusion: "Age UK IW remains an advocate for the voices of older people who are offline and overlooked. We are dedicated to ensuring their needs are heard and addressed while exploring new opportunities for digital support across the Island.".
Since the service closure in 2024, volunteers have continued supporting the community at Newport and Ryde libraries and by delivering 1:1 home visits by appointment only. Older Islanders will have more opportunity to stay connected in the digital age, with new drop-in sessions.
Starting 14th February 2025, two new drop-in sessions will be hosted on the second Friday of every month:
- Parklands Community Café: 11AM - 1PM
- John Cheverton Centre at Mountbatten: 1PM - 3PM
Digital support volunteers will be ready to assist, whether you're a complete beginner or facing a specific challenge, drop-ins present an opportunity to chat to tech-savvy volunteers.
Additionally, Age UK IW are piloting a collaboration with Tower House Surgery to help their patients navigate the transition in managing their healthcare via the NHS App, addressing a crucial need for the older population. Currently, this initiative is limited to patients of Tower House, but the charity hope to continue this work further afield if they are able to secure funding.
We are actively seeking volunteers and exploring funding opportunities to enhance this service in a sustainable way.