Digital Inclusion Project

The South Essex Homes Digital Inclusion project was launched in 2020 and has since been helping residents in Sheltered Housing to get online. The aim of this project is to help tenants to understand the benefits of using technology, to enable them to focus on the changes it could bring to their day to day lives, and to help them gain confidence to deal with modern technology. Digital Ambassador helping resident

We have Digital Ambassadors who are resident volunteers, and they love sharing their skills with others whilst also meeting new people.

The Digital Ambassadors can visit the schemes to give regular 1-2-1 sessions whether it be on a device provided by South Essex Homes or on a personal smartphone or tablet.

In the coming months, members of the Resident Engagement Team along with the Digital Ambassadors will be setting up coffee mornings in your schemes to come and discuss the project in more detail.

Here's what the residents are saying:

The training I received was excellent and the skills learnt was good and well understanding with clear explanation. - Resident at Nicholson House

Thanks to Sally my Digital Ambassador, I now send emails and have learnt all I could. Sally is very patient and a joy to work with! - Resident at Centurion Close

Sally was a very patient and understanding tutor, and was very good at explaining all to me, I am very grateful for all her teaching. - Resident at Centurion Close

Get Involved

If you think the digital inclusion project would be any help to you, even if it is learning to do just one thing on a computer or another device, then please contact Sue Rickard in the Resident Engagement Team on 01702 212650 or suerickard@seh.southend.gov.uk  

We would also like to have more digital ambassadors involved. Volunteering can help you to feel connected with your community and is a great way of making new friends, it also gives a sense of accomplishment when you have helped someone discover a new skill.

To become a Digital Ambassador, you need basic IT skills, patience, empathy and enthusiasm. Our volunteers generally give 1-2 hours per week supporting tenants. You would also be supported by the Resident Engagement Team staff and have regular contact.

If this is something you are interested in, please contact suerickard@seh.southend.gov.uk for more information.

Find out more in the video below: