A new project aimed at helping older people to stay connected through the internet was launched at a digital tea party in Belle Isle on Tuesday (4 August 2015).
Digital Angels is being launched by Leeds Federated and builds on their award winning HUGO (Helping yoU Get Online) Project. It is designed to break down the social isolation that many older people face by offering one-to-one support to use digital devices.
Explaining how the service will work, Cath Nelson the project’s manager said:
“In many ways it will be a befriending service. Our workers and volunteers will build relationships with the people they support and help them get the most out on the online world, whether that’s Skype-ing grandchildren, shopping online, or finding activities that they can join locally.
“It’s very much about using technology to connect with the off-line world.”
The project is currently recruiting two paid workers, who will be joined by a pool of volunteers. Digital Angels will start work in South Leeds in the autumn, but then move to other parts of the city. The volunteers working locally will be a lasting legacy for South Leeds and will continue to receive support from the project.
Digital Angels is being funded by the BIG Lottery Fund and is one of sixteen strands of Leeds Older People’s Forum’s Time To Shine programme, which is tackling social isolation across the city.
If you are interested in volunteering as a Digital Angel or know someone who could benefit from their one-to-one support, please contact Cath Nelson at Leeds Federated on (0113) 386 1000 or email: catherine.nelson@lfha.co.uk.
