A Reconnect staff member and Tommy Sheppard MP smiling to camera

Tommy Sheppard MP visits digital group

Bobby VeitchNews

Local MP Tommy Sheppard visited our digital group at the Ripple in Restalrig, giving him an insight into the valuable support it provides for those who attend.


Digital groups are part of People Know How’s Reconnect service focused on supporting wellbeing through the power of digital. The groups provide a community space that anyone can come along to regardless of their knowledge and understanding of digital. They are run by our team of Digital & Wellbeing Coordinators and VIPs (volunteers, interns and placement students) who are on hand to help with any question that comes their way or just sit down for a chat and cup of tea with someone who may be feeling isolated.

"I think the work that People Know How is doing here is essential to the community. Helping people tackle digital problems and avoiding scams empowers them when using the internet."
Tommy Sheppard, MP for Edinburgh East
A Digital Support Volunteer using a computer

Tommy spent the afternoon speaking to members of the Ripple digital group, understanding the challenges they face through digital exclusion and what can be done to support them. With 1 in 14 UK households (7%) having no access to the internet at home and 10.2m people lacking basic digital skills there is a clear need for services like Reconnect to bridge the digital divide reducing these figures in the process.

Our digital groups are located across Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian and are welcome to everyone, click below to find your nearest digital group.