We recently granted Older People Active Lives (OPAL) £3,290 to enable them to purchase ten tablets as part of their GoOnLine service, supporting older people to access digital technology.
OPAL works in West Cheshire rural communities where they fight to prevent social isolation amongst the elderly and their carers in rural areas, who are already at a disadvantage with poor services, lack of public transport and the closure of facilities such as banks and post offices. Many can feel vulnerable and socially isolated, which can lead to loneliness and depression, and in turn poor physical and emotional health.
GoOnLine teaches and enables digital inclusion, in a safe manner. A volunteer mentor provides one-to-one support to show an elderly person how to access the digital world allowing them to pursue personal interests, such as communicating with family and friends, taking pictures and videos, playing games and also carrying out tasks such as shopping and online banking. This in turn has a direct benefit to mental health and wellbeing as the users feel more connected and able.
As part of GoOnLine, the participant is given the choice to borrow an iPad, removing financial barriers to accessing the digital world and to allow them the opportunity to learn how to use an iPad at their own pace. At the end of the program, they are then given the chance to buy it or alternatively return it to OPAL when it is given to someone else to benefit from.
One beneficiary is a woman in her late 70’s who lives rurally with her disabled husband. Neither can drive anymore, and with no previous IT experience, she wanted to learn how to use a tablet as she felt isolated. After support from a volunteer, she is now more digitally aware and says it has improved both her and her husband’s lives as they feel empowered and better connected. They can organise food shopping, connect with their family with video calls and organise trips and travel online.
Our volunteer has known this couple for several years and can see their new confidence when using technology, which they previously found scary or impossible.
We were delighted to support this initiative as part of our aim to support those experiencing disadvantage in an often neglected community.
Opal Services – Older People Active Lives
If you would like to apply to us for a grant, you can find out more information here.
