Training for groups to offer digital support to customers

Digital Dynasty aims to help organisations improve their digital offer and thereby reduce digital exclusion for its customers. It covers all of the Black Country boroughs.

Many members of the community are isolated because of a lack of digital skills. They may not have an email address or indeed an internet enabled device which might mean they aren’t able to apply for benefits or help from the government towards their increased cost of living. They may not be able to access online appointments with their GP. They may not be able to apply for school places online or be able to receive the school newsletter for their child. If they are housebound, they may lack the skills to buy food shopping online.

Having an email address is the key to so many social things too. You may have customers who are separated from family and loved ones but could be reunited if the customer can connect to them digitally. Customers can access streaming services like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Netflix or Spotify if they develop digital skills. Digital Dynasty emphasise that using the basic skills of being able to search online, being safe online and having an email address are the skills that are needed to do these activities.

Digital Dynasty provides free training to staff and/or volunteers to help them supplement their own digital skills which in turn, enables them to support your community members.

Digital Dynasty don’t provide training to the organisation’s customers, only to their colleagues (staff) and volunteers. It’s a ‘train the trainer’ project. The staff and volunteers should have proficient IT skills to be able to then deliver the services your organisation requires to your customers.

The sessions they’ve been asked to do most often are;
• Passwords – what is a good password?
• Safety online – search safely, think before you click
• Setting up an email account (they use Gmail)
• Shopping online
• Job searching
• Online council services – MYDudley
• Google Drive
• Social media privacy
• Helping learners with a free, online guided learning site

They have also developed bespoke sessions for groups depending upon the needs of their customers such as showing people how to use their phones.

Each topic is usually about an hour long. They can do morning or afternoon sessions, sessions are usually 90 minutes long but can be adjusted to suit your needs. They don’t have a minimum requirement for group size although it would be nice to have four or more at a session, twelve would be a maximum size. They will deliver the sessions at your preferred location.

They’ve also run some sessions on
• banking online
• budgeting
• benefits
• buying and selling online
• cost of living
• housing
• signposting
• how to use a mobile phone to make video calls

As it’s a train the trainer project, they usually train either members of staff or volunteers who then acquire the skills to train other people. The staff/volunteers effectively become ‘Digital Champions’ who then deliver training to customers.

For further information, contact Kevin Priest
kevin.priest@bchg.co.uk
07969 559155