LAL buddy up with Chorley Council to help improve digital skills

Lancashire Adult Learning are working together with Chorley Council to provide a free, live, online tablet course to help people reap the benefits of being online.​

During the coronavirus pandemic lockdown, being online has been a lifeline to some people, who have been able to use the internet for social interaction with friends and family, online shopping and more.

There are many people in the borough who would benefit from gaining some digital skills but need the support to help them do this which is why Chorley Council and Lancashire Adult Learning are delivering this free 4 week course, starting in September (date to be confirmed).

Councillor Adrian Lowe, Executive Member of Chorley Council (Customer, Advice and Streetscene Services) “We’ve teamed up with Lancashire Adult Learning to see if we can help to get more people online across the borough, in a safe way, so they can benefit from being online in the future.

“It’s not just about being tech savvy, being online can help with social interaction helping reduce isolation, online exercise and activities, online shopping when people can’t get to the shops – it’s a really useful skill to have.”

The course is aimed at residents with little digital skills who can be supported by a family member or friend (digital buddy) within their social bubble to help them through the course, which will be delivered by a fully qualified teacher.

Learners will work at their own pace and the live sessions will cover basic tablet skills, communicating online (e.g. Face Time), shopping and accessing services online and of course learning how to be safe online.

If residents have a family member, friend or neighbour within their social bubble that would benefit from being online but need some support, they can register their interest, by emailing their details and the learners details to admin@lal.ac.uk​