It's never too late to join the digital age — that's the message from Bolton Council which is helping everyone get online. The council is offering free access to digital devices and taster sessions throughout October as part of the Digiober campaign and national Get Online Week from October 14 to 20. The campaigns targets those who have little or no experience in using IT equipment like smart phones, tablets, or PCs and helps them give it a go for free.
The aim is to open up a world of possibilities for those that feel digitally excluded, helping more people get online to become more confident in using digital devices, providing greater life opportunities like access to further education and jobs. In partnership with Greater Manchester Databank, the Bolton’s Digital Employment and Skills team (DES) has supported hundreds of people with access to free SIM cards and devices over the past few years. Based at Bolton Central Library , the DES team have provided digital skills training and drop-in and one-to-one sessions, lending laptops and tablets and provided easier ways to get online with low cost broadband social tariffs.
The team has helped many people , but there area still 26,000 residents still classed as at high risk of digital exclusion according to the Greater Manchester Digital Exclusion Risk Index 2024 (DERI). Anyone feeling digitally excluded can access the free support during October with: • Borrowing devices • Getting online • Browsing the internet • .