Living in this ‘online’ world
Are you finding it increasingly difficult to live in this ‘online’ world? You are not alone.
As a charity supporting Disabled people in Basingstoke we are seeing a sharp increase in the digital divide, of older people and those with a disability being ‘left behind’.
Basingstoke & District Disability Forum (BDDF)‘s services are all free and available to anyone with a disability, visible or invisible. If you feel you will benefit from what we do, then we are here to help you.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic services have been forced to move online, not just for BDDF but for every charity and business in the world. For people who do not have access to a computer, this can be a very lonely, isolating experience.
At BDDF we are working hard to reach our members who do not have computer skills, or who are lacking digital confidence. During September and October, we have been running a five-week basic IT course at the Basingstoke Discovery Centre. Our learners are discovering how to send emails, safely shop online, join video calls so that they can see loved ones, and search the web.
Some of our learners didn’t have access to any technology at home, so we teamed up with BVA’s Reboot IT scheme to offer free refurbished laptops to those who would otherwise not have the means to buy one.
We have some more funding to help more Disabled and older people to get connected. If you or someone you know needs our help, please contact us on 01256 423869 or email info@bddf.org.uk. As soon as we have enough people interested, we will work with our partners to deliver a further basic IT course to teach them the skills they need to get online. For those who simply could not afford to buy a computer we will refer them to obtain one free of charge, subject to availability.
