Learn new skills with Digital Friends

Digital devices are some of the most popular modern Christmas gifts. Yet many people are baffled by how to use the technology which has become so widespread in recent years.

Brighton & Hove City Council’s Libraries Service is running a volunteer scheme called Digital Friends to help people gain digital skills and learn how to use new devices. The aim is to give people an understanding of how to use tablets, laptops, computers and smart phones to go online to enjoy email, social media, the Internet, games and much more. The scheme also recognises there can be skill gaps, so someone adept on their phone may not know how to make the most out of a computer.

Volunteers are available in libraries around the city to offer advice on a friendly one-to-one basis in scheduled session times. Visitors to libraries are also being asked to pledge to share new skills by helping someone they know, such as a friend or relative, do something digital they haven’t tried before.

Cllr Alan Robins, Deputy Chair of Economic Development and Culture Committee, said: “Everyone has different skills and abilities when it comes to new technology. The library is a calm and friendly place to go to find out more and share your own knowledge, which is vital with everything changing at such a fast pace. It’s much more fun to talk to other people about how things work than struggling alone with an instruction manual. Maybe it could be a New Year’s Resolution to try to get online, send a text, tweet or do something else new for 2016.”

The sessions will begin again from Monday 4 January. To find out more about when and where these will be taking place or to book an IT lesson with one of our Digital Friends volunteers contact Jubilee Library on 01273 2960800 or ask at your local library for more details.

There is also still time to complete the online consultation about Library Services in the city, which includes a section on modern IT facilities, fast internet access, more digital resources and support to help people use the equipment and resources.

Find out more and complete the questionnaire here:
http://consult.brighton-hove.gov.uk/portal/bhcc/libraries/change_to_service/library_services_consultation

The consultation includes questions about the proposals to make changes to Hove Library:
www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/hove-library