We recently awarded Older People Active Lives (OPAL) a grant of £3,290 to purchase ten tablets for its GoOnLine service, helping older people access digital technology and develop vital digital skills in an ever increasing online world.
OPAL works across rural communities in West Cheshire, where it helps tackle social isolation among older people and their carers. Many residents face challenges including limited local services, poor public transport links and the closure of vital facilities such as banks and post offices. These circumstances can leave people feeling vulnerable and disconnected, leading to loneliness, poor mental wellbeing and declining physical health.
One beneficiary described OPAL as a “much needed service to the community.”
Last year, 178 people benefited from the GoOnLine which promotes digital inclusion in a safe and supportive way. Volunteer mentors provide one-to-one support, helping older people gain confidence using technology and access the digital world. Participants learn how to communicate with family and friends, take photographs and videos, play puzzles and games to keep their minds active, shop online and manage internet banking.
Developing these skills can have a significant positive impact on mental health and wellbeing, helping participants feel more connected, independent and confident in their daily lives.
As part of GoOnLine, participants can borrow a tablet, removing financial barriers to digital access and allowing them to learn at their own pace. At the end of the programme, they can choose to purchase the device or return it to OPAL for someone else to benefit from.
In the first year of the project, the ten tablets were loaned to 12 individuals, with 4 participants choosing to keep their device by making a small donation to OPAL. One beneficiary with poor eyesight described the tablet as life-changing, explaining that it had enabled them to keep in regular contact with family, stay up to date with the news and enjoy reading books once again.
Another beneficiary, a woman in her late seventies who lives in a rural area with her disabled husband, wanted to learn how to use a tablet after feeling increasingly isolated. Neither of them is able to drive and they had no previous experience of using digital technology. With support from an OPAL volunteer, she has become confident using technology and says it has improved both her life and her husband’s. They are now able to arrange online grocery shopping, make video calls with family members, and plan trips and travel online, helping them to feel more empowered and connected.
We were delighted to support this initiative as part of our commitment to assisting those facing disadvantage.
If you are interested in applying for a grant, you can find out more information here.
Find out more about OPAL on their website here Opal Services – Older People Active Lives
