Our partners 2021 to 2022
Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB allocated each VCFSE organisation £1,000 as a start-up to enable them to buy equipment or data for people in their communities. They were also offered additional funding of £500 for case studies and £500 for videos
Preston City Council provided funding for 51 people to get tablets and Wi-Fi units. With wider support from VCFSE organisations people from BAME communities were able to access local support services and Healthwave provided tablets to three of our VCFSE organisations to give to service users to support them to access services.
We encouraged VCFSE organisations to share resources to support people in their communities providing additional access to community rooms, Wi-Fi, and equipment.
Our feedback
"I was extremely active until Covid and the death of my husband. Thanks to being given a tablet and support, I am now digitally active and regularly paint with my granddaughter in Australia."
"My dad lives in Lancaster and is totally isolated at times. His emotional wellbeing improved because of doing digital artwork with his granddaughter and using social media to keep in touch with his family in UK and overseas."
"I have Down Syndrome; I am Deaf and I don’t like technology it scares me! But I tried hard, and I can now contact BSL interpreters and NHS 111 in a medical emergency."
"I am 89, blind and hard of hearing. I live with my dog and have some support staff who come in and out. They showed me how to use Alexa to access news, shop online, and get amazon books, quizzes, music and pod casts. My life has changed so much, I have got my independence back!"
"After the digital champions supported me by helping me to use different platforms, I felt like I had gained independence and confidence to manage my own finances online – despite being profoundly deaf."
"My granddaughter come over and asked me to download this App. I used to dread having to ring up about my prescriptions, and now it’s all set up for me. You can even book appointments on there too. They’re lovely on the phone but I won’t miss calling them!"
"This session was amazing. Both the children and I (the school teacher) learned so much about different devices and safety online! It was great from an engagement and involvement point of view! A new face really captured the children’s attention too!"
"I didn’t realise that shopping online can help save money on things like getting a bus pass online, make GP appointments and order repeat prescriptions, weekly shopping or that you can do things like set devices to private so that only you and your friends can access it. Possibilities are endless."