Are you keen to help folk get online and make more effective use of the internet and ‘tech’?
At Tap into IT Where You Are, we believe that everyone should be able to enjoy the benefits of the internet and technology.
‘Digital literacy’ can make as big a difference to quality of life today as was made by teaching everyone to read and write a century or so ago.
If you would like to become one of the 27% (19,500 people) that volunteer in the third sector in Edinburgh annually, then why not join us?
Tap into IT interviewed a number of Digital Volunteer Champions prior to Volunteers Week 2022.
Their varied responses will be added during the course of Volunteers week (1-7 June 2022) and may encourage you to consider applying. The responses can be viewed by clicking the questions below. ⤵️
If you are interested in volunteering at Tap into IT, please read our volunteering section and then if you are still interested please complete the application form.
1. Why did you become a Digital Champion Volunteer?
Sheila – I became a Digital Champion Volunteer because I could see the benefit of people being able to communicate and meet together online after being segregated over lockdown, and especially for those who are not able to be out and about.
Gerry – I retired in 2019 from running IT services overseas in the Middle East for 30 years. I came to Edinburgh because my mother is here. I wanted to volunteer to give something back and had an idea that my IT skills might be useful but finding something suitable wasn’t easy. I came across Tap into IT on the Volunteer Edinburgh website and started just before lockdown.
Maggie – I’m retired. A neighbour (-who is a Trustee) told me about Tap into IT and asked if I was interested. “Yes, I could do with that sort of help” I answered. “No, as a Volunteer” she said. “You must be joking!” It turned out that she wasn’t and she persuaded me to give it a go. My talents are more on the social side. Chatting to people, especially some of the very elderly who come along, looking things up that interest them, like one lady in her 90’s who loved to look up the news and past events in her home town of Wick.
Bob – I sort of drifted into it through clients** who lived at Gillespie Crescent who mentioned that Tap Into IT was starting services for the residents.
Tony – I trained as an electrical engineer, but at the age of 27, moved into the computer industry for 20 years, selling large main-frame computers for hundreds of thousands of pounds, requiring air conditioned rooms. (Their power and memory was less than any mobile phone available today!)
At the age of 50, I moved into teaching, ostensibly Maths and Physics, but actually Computing. (I was often learning the night before, what I was teaching!) I ended up developing and running a school computer network until I retired at 73, and found myself with time on my hands.
By chance I saw an advert in the local chemist for volunteers with TapIT’s predecessor, and I started at Old Farm Court some 9 years ago, learning as I went along!
2. Did you already have an interest in digital inclusion before you started?
Sheila – I was interested in digital inclusion before I knew about Tap into IT because I had managed to help a member of the congregation get online on Zoom to connect to the church service which she missed so much. It gave her pleasure to connect to the church again, and she was able to connect by herself after 2 sessions.
Bob – Digital Inclusion make it sound so posh – As an older person myself (74) I felt that many older people were missing out on the fun of computing.
Tony – It rapidly became apparent that TapIT’s clients were pretty bright, and needed these new computer devices in order to keep in touch with their friends and relatives, and to function in the developing domestic IT world.
3. What do you do as part of your role?
Sheila – In my role, I sit with a member of our church weekly to connect with other church members and chat, and we have connected on Google Maps to places they used to live and places they knew, and tried screen sharing.
Bob – Listen to the needs of the service users. not jumping to conclusions or skipping over the “obvious” solutions.
Tony – I am particularly good at washing up and making tea! I never know what is coming up next. I am relatively competent at Apple and Android devices. Getting rusty on Windows.
4. What do you enjoy most about being a Digital Champion?
Sheila – I enjoy seeing the group members becoming more confident and understanding the processes bit by bit.
Bob – Interaction with service users enabling them to make full use of technology to the best of their ability.
Tony – I never know what is coming up! Still learning in my 80s.
5. Do you feel that your role is rewarding, if yes, in what way?
Sheila – Yes, I feel it is rewarding in that I know how much I enjoy using the internet, and am able to pass on what I know to others.
Gerry – It has been very rewarding. There’s a degree of ageism in society and it helps to give me a sense of self-worth – I’m not on the scrap heap! It has helped me get back into the community after being so long away. Also I’ve been learning about things I had no experience of before. I’m involved with another volunteer (-in an online chat group) with the wife/Carer of a person with Dementia. My role is to help on the tech side, bringing up the web sites to find out what help is available and how to get things done. My fellow volunteer/helper has more of the social skills as well as shared experience with the lady. It’s one of the things Tap into IT does well – recognising that social skills and tech skills are equally important.
Bob – I enjoy seeing service users go from fearful to being relaxed and comfortable using Tech.
Tony – I enjoy the different people and their different problems. Very interesting people turn up!
6. What have you gained from being a Digital Champion Volunteer?
Sheila – I have gained by getting to know the ladies I visit better, and have also learned more skills from getting involved with Tap into IT.
Bob – I have found that working with people is challenging and that there are still many things I need to learn – it’s all part of the fun.
Tony – Variety of interesting problems, people and locations. Learn as much as I help.
7. If someone was thinking about becoming a Digital Champion Volunteer but wasn’t sure, what would you tell them?
Sheila – I would tell them to give it a try. I get satisfaction knowing I am helping others to learn how to connect to the internet.
Bob – I would re-assure them that clients generally do not want advance lessons in rocket science algorithms: they just need empathy and common sense.
Tony – You don’t have to be daft, but it helps!
Tap into It Where You Are runs clubs ‘where people are’ – Sheltered Housing, Residential Care homes, Community Centres and group/organisation/church premises as well as individual’s own homes.
Primarily we are working with ‘older’ people from around retirement age and beyond, given that they are one of the biggest ‘offline’ groups at present.
Volunteers help people to explore what the web and digital technology can offer them, whether this is the chance to keep in touch with family and friends, online shopping, news, information and entertainment and new activities.
We are also keen to recruit ‘one to one’ helpers for people with additional needs such as Dementia, making use of the internet to enable the person to reconnect with the things they are interested in.
If you tick all the boxes below, then please do get in touch.
We can never have too many Volunteers!
As a volunteer, you will be working with a significant number of older people with additional needs and in receipt of care/support services, so you will need to apply to be a member of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme or get an ‘update’ if you’re already a member.
We will arrange for you to complete the necessary application form and send it off for you. Please note that there is no cost to you.
We also ask for two references.
If you are interested in joining us as a volunteer please complete the online application form (Google Docs file) or fill in the form, on the right of this page, for more information.
Once we have your application, we will arrange to meet, with you, for an informal chat and progress from there.
Tap into IT Where You Are has full Public Liability Insurance for volunteers.
Contact us on: 0131 228 5716 or 07762 982 509 during office hours
