Apna Virsa has been running a weekly Digital Skills class to help the over 50s with little or no IT skills to get connected and become more independent.

This week’s class linked in with the #OneSlough Community Wellbeing Champions Project when the class’s theme was research on the Internet and how to find trusted sources of information.

They looked at the benefits of having the COVID-19 vaccine, myth busting and the information on the #OneSlough FAQ page. This led to some discussion work on possible side effects versus not having the vaccine.

The class, who are all fully vaccinated took part in a group discussion, Q&A session and learnt practical skills on mobile phones and tablets.

The homework for this session was to share what they had learnt with their families and to talk about their findings on the Internet.

Seema, Apna Virsa lead said, “As a result of COVID-19, many of our older members faced isolation, they were completely reliant on the younger generation to help them with practical things they took for granted beforehand. E-mail and online banking became a necessity during lockdown and to stay social, some IT knowledge was needed.”

“We recognized that there was a need to give them back their independence, so Apna Virsa developed a 10-week course to provide a practical and creative solution. The classes are in person, which makes it easier to engage with these members and support them with their learning. They have surprised us by the progress they have made. They are so enthusiastic about each session and eager to learn more.”

Take a look at the #OneSlough FAQ page at https://oneslough.org.uk/oneslough-faqs/