Allan and Frank are Digital Support Volunteers who have been supporting their local digital groups, providing digital support and a community spirit across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
This Volunteers Week, we’re pulling back the curtain and showing what it’s like to live a day as one of our Reconnect VIPs (volunteers, interns and placement students). Digital Support Volunteers provide support to improve digital and social inclusion, both on our national digital support helpline, as well as through in person support at digital groups in the community.
Volunteers come from all walks of life and give 110% every day. Digital Support Volunteers Frank and Allan have both retired and, since then, wanted to continue doing what they enjoy most, supporting those who need it in our digital groups.
Digital groups are part of our Reconnect service addressing digital inclusion. Thanks to VIPs and coordinators, they provide spaces across Edinburgh and the Lothians where local community members can come for digital support, a friendly chat or the opportunity to make new friends and meet new people.
Since retirement, Allan has found himself compelled to jump headfirst into volunteering. Currently volunteering for 3.5 days, he supports People Know How, Citizens Advice and a community help initiative. He selected these charities as he wanted to engage with people in his local community, helping them with problems in their daily lives.
Frank, however, spent his career working with vulnerable people through his local council. Once he hit retirement age, his love for helping people was still unwavering. After seeing an advertisement for Digital Support Volunteer, he knew his competent digital skills and his drive to support those who needed it most made him the perfect match.
Both Frank and Allan have put their skills acquired in the workplace to good use and made a huge difference to their respective digital groups at Places for People in Craigmillar and The Ripple in Craigentinny.
Allan's day
Both Allan and Frank have made significant positive differences to their groups. Allan has recently been helping group member Eddie look for jobs. With English not being Eddie's first language, this process has had its challenges. Allan has helped him through email support, CV guidance and best practices for navigating the job market. Since joining the digital group, Eddie has received multiple job interviews.
Frank's day
Frank appreciates getting an insight into the lives of his group members, helping those around him to recover old family photos, set up video calls with family and do online shopping for presents for loved ones. He values the importance of making the most of the groups and adapting to what the group members need, whether it be a cup of tea, a wee chat or some friendly digital support.
Taking his interest in digital support even further, Frank also joined our citizen research project and is conducting interviews with community members to understand further the struggles of the digital world, digital poverty and how we can bridge this gap.
Tackling the digital divide
We have always believed in the deep link between digital and social inclusion. It can be very difficult to be part of society when you are digitally excluded; everything is set up to be so much easier and more convenient online. That’s why our digital groups are an integral piece of the communities they serve.
Allan and Frank have no plans to stop volunteering anytime soon. They love what they do, and want to keep doing it. We’re grateful to have such amazing VIPs on board who want to give back to their community.
Our VIPs have had such rewarding experiences, and we’d love to have more Digital Support Volunteers join us in 2023. We could be writing about you in 2024!