Could you support an elderly family member, friend or neighbour to get online?

Become a Digital Companion and help Mid and West Wales’ most vulnerable re-connect with the communities around them

 People in Mid and West Wales are being urged to get more of the community’s older residents online by helping a family member, friend, or neighbour with technology.

The call has been issued after the most recent National Survey for Wales (2019 -20) found 41% of people over 75 and 19% of people aged 65-74 are classed as digitally excluded, while half of those aged 70+ say access to groceries, medication and essentials has also been affected by Covid-19.

Dewi Smith, of Digital Communities Wales, said: “The pandemic has highlighted the importance of getting people online, yet we know that in Wales about 10% of adults are not, and that this is particularly true of older people.

“For a lot of older people who are not online, the best person to help them is a trusted friend or family member who knows them well and can work with them one-to-one to overcome their fears and build their confidence – they need someone to be their Digital Companion.”

Tegwen Morris, from Aberystwyth, is one of those already helping others to get online where they haven’t previously had the means or expertise to do so. She has used her skills as National Director of Welsh women’s’ organisation Merched y Wawr to help her members with various technology challenges, from doing a Google search to hosting a Zoom meeting.

Tegwen explained: “Many of our groups and clubs normally meet in their local community at least once a month. However, following the pandemic, things have changed dramatically. Some of the elderly members struggled quite a lot with trying to understand technology so we’ve been offering 1-2-1 sessions to anyone who wanted it, whether it’s to send an email for the first time or to join a Zoom meeting.

“To see the reactions of the members who have actually managed to send an email for the first time or receive an email, to others who have actually joined a Zoom meeting and the understanding that they can see other people has been wonderful.”

“I’ve got two members in their 90s who have been contacting us regularly sending us pictures and really enjoying the technology. Age doesn’t have to be a restriction. It’s been such a pleasant experience,” Tegwen added.

“Even if it’s just 10 minutes to spare, that can sometimes be enough to tell somebody how to turn a laptop on, or just take them to the Google search and explain how it’s not going to bite your head off and it really is safe. It could be a really small chunk of your day, but it could make a huge difference to the person at the other end.”

Launched by Digital Communities Wales in conjunction with Age Cymru and the Welsh Government, the Digital Companions initiative is based on the simple premise of a friend, neighbour, or family member helping someone they know to use the internet. With this help, some of the country’s most vulnerable and isolated residents can improve their digital confidence and re-connect with their loved ones, wider communities, and vital services around them. 

Dewi added: “Just as Tegwen’s story shows, Digital Companions have already had a high success rate in helping people who are ‘harder to reach’- for example those who have been unable to attend group activities outside the home and those living alone with no family support.

“And so, we are appealing to more people to come forward and help out too – people with a couple of hours spare – whose time and experience can help some of Wales’ most vulnerable and isolated residents at a time when they have never needed to be more in touch with the world.”

“If you know someone who isn’t making the most of the digital world or is struggling to get online, why not ask if you can help them? You don’t need to be an IT whizz – you just need to be familiar with using the web yourself and be patient, caring and a good listener. Digital Communities Wales has ideas and resources to help you to do your bit and make a difference,” Dewi said.

More information on how to become a Digital Companion, or to introduce someone you think could benefit from the scheme, visit http://www.digitalcommunities.gov.wales.