Help to get online with Get Online Week!
8th October, 2019
Get Online Week, the UK biggest digital inclusion campaign returns to Herefordshire and Gloucestershire this month.
Running from 14 to 20 October Get Online Week aims to help people get started using the internet and computers by offering free training.
Get Online Week in Herefordshire
Herefordshire Libraries and the Fastershire broadband project are offering a series of free training for local people across the county. Workshops are taking place in Hereford, Ross-on-Wye, Leominster, Ledbury and Kington libraries on topics such as staying safe online, using smartphones and tablets and sending emails.
Councillor Trish Marsh, cabinet member for environment, economy and skills, responsible for the Fastershire project, said “We’re delighted to support Get Online Week again this year because it’s vital that people feel confident and safe to go online.”
"The internet offers so many benefits, particularly for rural communities, from keeping in contact with family and friends to paying bills online, and through Fastershire we’re ensuring more and more parts of the county can access faster broadband and develop the skills to use it.”
Get Online Week in Gloucestershire
The training is being run by Adult Education in Gloucestershire and Fastershire and is taking place at Coleford Library, Hesters Way Community Resource Centre and Hucclecote Library. The training will focus on essential skills like how to use a computer, the internet, email and how to access key services online.
Natasha Panchbhaya, Adult Education Delivery Manager at Adult Education in Gloucestershire, said, “Adult Education in Gloucestershire are delighted to be working in collaboration with Gloucestershire County Council’s Fastershire Project for Get Online Week 2019.
We’re keen to support those individuals who maybe struggling with their digital skills. The courses are popular amongst those that are retired and they have found the skills useful to allow them to communicate with family and friends online and also support personal ventures.”
Councillor Patrick Molyneux, Cabinet Member for Economy, Education and Skills, said, “Gloucestershire County Council is committed to ensuring at that our homes and businesses can access faster broadband, but it is so important that no one feels left behind."
"So much of modern life requires us to access the internet and through programmes like this, we’re working to ensure that everyone can benefit from faster broadband.”
For more information about training and support provided by Fastershire, please
click here.