Bradford Digital Inclusion Officer Ayisha partnered with Clarke Foley, a community hub and charity in Ilkley, to deliver eight digital drop-in sessions. These sessions aimed to help local residents improve their digital skills by learning and understanding how to use mobile phones, laptops, and tablets.
In today’s digital-first world, being able to access and understand technology is an essential part of everyday life – from managing finances and accessing healthcare to staying connected and improving overall wellbeing. Being online is not just convenient - it can be transformative, opening new opportunities.
Recognising this, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority has launched a comprehensive digital inclusion program, to give individuals and communities across the region the skills and confidence to thrive in an increasingly connected society. It’s already having a real-life impact within our communities.
Bradford Digital Inclusion Officer Ayisha partnered with Clarke Foley, a community hub and charity in Ilkley, to deliver eight digital drop-in sessions. These sessions aimed to help local residents improve their digital skills by learning and understanding how to use mobile phones, laptops, and tablets. Over the course of the program, Ayisha was supported by six dedicated volunteers and engaged with 18 individuals from the community.
I heard about the drop-ins through the Gazette and Clarke Foley and thought I could get support to lose my fear of the mobile phone. In my first session, I learned how to use Google Maps, adjust the brightness, control the volume, and connect to Wi-Fi. Ayisha was patient and walked me through each step. She inspired me to use my phone more and build my skills.
The drop-in sessions delivered far-reaching benefits:
The team has also worked with Virgin Media to build volunteer support, meaning it can carry on into the future.
Joe Short, manager of the Clarke Foley community hub, said: "We put them in touch with our Virgin Media contact to facilitate volunteer support at their sessions, to help build their capacity. As a result, they now have confirmed dates for all of 2025 starting in January, running on the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month."
"We should hopefully have a mixture of Clarke Foley, Virgin Media, and U3A volunteers running the sessions, which hopefully means one-to-one support as much as possible. We wouldn’t be where we are now without your help, so I’m incredibly grateful that we’re now able to deliver this valuable service to our community."
He added: "We were delighted to work with Bradford Council’s Digital Inclusion team to offer this valuable, free service. Ayisha and her team explained everything simply and effectively, which resonated with our users. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to future sessions."
This successful partnership underscores the power of digital inclusion in creating more connected and confident communities. With plans to expand the initiative in 2025, Clarke Foley and the Digital Inclusion team remain committed to helping individuals develop essential skills for the digital age. Discover more about the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Digital Inclusion Program and how it’s transforming communities.