Staying Connected

About

Working in partnership with Communities 1st, Watford & Three Rivers Trust, Welwyn and Hatfield CVS and North Herts and Stevenage CVS, Community Alliance is delighted to announce that we have secured a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund to support our Hertfordshire-wide digital inclusion project, “Staying Connected,” for the next three years. This vital project, which began in 2020, is dedicated to supporting the 10% of people in Hertfordshire who are unable to access the digital world. Click here to read the full press release.

Digital exclusion is the inability to access or use online products or services. In 2018, 5.3 million adults in the UK (10%) of the UK population were non-internet users. The pandemic has reduced this figure as more people use the internet to access services and keep in touch with friends and family, but more than a million homes (6%) of the UK population remain offline.

To tackle this issue, the ‘Staying Connected’ Digital Inclusion project aims to tackle the struggles related to digital exclusion and participation. Funded through the money raised by Sir Captain Tom Moore, the project addresses four key areas:

• Access to equipment
• Access to connectivity
• Fear of using equipment
• Skills in using the equipment

How the Staying Connected Project Works

The Staying Connected project has three elements:

• Donating Equipment – have any unwanted tech lying around, please donate them to us.  The equipment will be securely wiped and given to someone who needs it. You can drop them into our office at Nigel Copping Community Building, 88 Sanville Gardens, Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire, SG12 8GA. Don’t forget to leave your details so that we know who has kindly donated the equipment.
• Becoming a Digital Champion – Digital Champions support people who want to find out more about using digital technology (computers, tablets and smartphones) and the internet. These dedicated volunteers will help people who are new to technology, or those who need some support, to use their devices effectively. Find out more from the Digital Champion Role description here on the ‘Volunteering’ page or contact sarahc@communityalliancebeh.org.uk
• Referring Beneficiaries – email susan@communityalliancebeh.org.uk to ask for a referral form.