Would you like to help people in the local community with online skills?

Health and wellbeing charity Wellmoor, based in Moretonhampstead, is looking for volunteers to help people in the local area become more confident with technology.

With the move towards an increasingly digital world, many older people in the local community feel gradually more excluded, as so many services have now moved online. Furthermore, many digitally excluded people don’t want to keep asking family for help with their devices.

Wellmoor’s Digital Befriending volunteers are patient and friendly, helping clients with whatever they need help with online, such as booking doctor’s appointments, ordering shopping, and video calling friends and family. They also help clients get connected to the internet in the first place, and can provide a device if needed. 

Lori, one of Wellmoor’s current Digital Befriending volunteers, said: ’It’s lovely to be able to help people become more confident with using technology. I understand the challenges of living rurally and connecting to the internet can sometimes be difficult — I helped a lady do her shopping online and she was so grateful!’

The training to become a Digital Befriender is offered for free with Wellmoor and can be completed online and in your own time. Travel expenses are provided when volunteering. Some IT experience is beneficial and a calm and patient manner is essential. To find out more, call Edmund on 01647 440775 or email Katie on katie@wellmoor.org.uk