Our drop-in service is a safe and secure space where users can develop both digital skills and increase their social circles of support. Many become volunteers (Digital Befrienders) peer supporting others by sharing what they have learnt. our service operates over two days per week for people to pop in and other days for specific project work. The service is embedded into the local community and is fully accessible to wheelchair users including a café for use by visitors where they can socialise over a tea/coffee or a bite to to eat and share interests that can lead to participation in local community activities such as music making, cinema club and arts and crafts. We have 17 volunteer online chum mentors representing a cross-section of the local population l.e., some are disabled, elderly, retired professionals, FE students-the latter adding a intergenerational dynamic to active learning. Some of our volunteers with specific digital skills offer remote support to those who are housebound. All our volunteers are DSB checked and inducted into our culture, policy, and practice such as confidentiality and adult safeguarding. We now 18 to 20 new users monthly some with one-off support others requiring longer term help. Approximately half of those receiving ongoing help become a volunteer online chum mentor (peer supporting others) alongside opportunities to help with our project community development work i.e., outreach, workshops, marketing events and research.
We are certainly busy bees!