Essex adult education centre reaches out to digital champions
ACL Essex is seeking tech-loving students to connect residents to the online world.
Volunteers will be given free training and access to the resources they need.
Submitted by ACL Essex
ACL Essex wants 'digital champions' to offer their assistance as part of a new volunteer programme.
Designed to support people to live independently, while also helping to reduce digital and social isolation, the skill-sharing volunteer scheme hopes to help users become more confident about gaining access to education and employment opportunities online.
Anyone who can spare the time to sign up to the programme will be eligible to receive free training and access to resources and will be given all the tools they need to help support others in the community.
Helping to launch the Digital Champions programme is ACL Essex’s principal, Katherine Burns.
She said: "All of our lives are becoming increasingly dependent on digital technology but for those who struggle with IT, this can make their world very isolating and frustrating.
"At ACL Essex, we’re keen to boost digital skill levels across the county and our new ‘Digital Champions’ scheme will help us reach direct into the heart of communities.
“We hope our ‘Digital Champions’ programme will make a huge difference to people’s lives, supporting residents to live independently, more connected to important services and in touch with their loved ones."
All Digital Champions will be part of a network of volunteers who give their time, ideas and energy to help build happier and healthier places for everyone to live.
The Digital Champions programme is being run by ACL Essex in partnership with the Essex Wellbeing Service, Essex County Council and the Rural Community Council of Essex.
ACL Essex offers a wide range of qualifications and skills online and at their learning centres in Basildon, Brentwood, Chelmsford, Clacton, Colchester, Harlow, Maldon, Rayleigh and Witham.
For more information, visit www.aclessex.com/digital-champions.
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