In today’s digital-first world, using technology confidently is essential. From managing finances and accessing healthcare to connecting with loved ones, being online opens up new opportunities and can change lives.
Recognising this, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority launched a digital inclusion programme. This programme aims to give individuals and communities the skills and confidence they need to thrive in a connected society. It’s already making a real difference.
In Bradford, Ayisha worked with Clarke Foley to run eight drop-in sessions. With the help of six dedicated volunteers, Ayisha engaged 18 local participants.
I heard about the drop-ins through the Gazette and Clarke Foley and thought I could get support to lose my fear of the mobile phone. In my first session, I learned how to use Google Maps, adjust the brightness, control the volume, and connect to Wi-Fi. Ayisha was patient and walked me through each step. She inspired me to use my phone more and build my skills.
Feedback from a session attendee
The sessions offered many benefits:
Building confidence: Attendees gained practical skills, boosting their confidence to use devices alone.
Fostering connections: The drop-ins created an inclusive learning space, encouraging participants to share knowledge.
Empowering volunteers: Volunteers enjoyed supporting the community and many want to join future sessions.
Inspiring growth: The success attracted interest from other organisations wanting to run similar initiatives in 2025.
Partnerships have also been strengthened with support from Virgin Media, helping secure the programme’s future.
We put them in touch with our Virgin Media contact to facilitate volunteer support at their sessions, to help build their capacity. As a result, they now have confirmed dates for all of 2025 starting in January, running on the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month.
We should hopefully have a mixture of Clarke Foley, Virgin Media, and U3A volunteers running the sessions, which hopefully means one-to-one support as much as possible. We wouldn’t be where we are now without your help, so I’m incredibly grateful that we’re now able to deliver this valuable service to our community.
We were delighted to work with Bradford Council’s Digital Inclusion team to offer this valuable, free service. Ayisha and her team explained everything simply and effectively, which resonated with our users. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to future sessions.
Joe Short, Manager of the Clarke Foley community hub
This successful partnership shows the power of digital inclusion in building connected, confident communities. With more sessions planned for 2025, Clarke Foley and the Digital Inclusion team are committed to helping residents develop vital skills for the digital age.
