Janine100% Digital are a community-based approach to digital inclusion, which means they are a support organisation to help people better understand how to use their technology.
Whether sending an email, learning how to use price comparison websites or plugging in an HDMI cable, 100% Digital supports anyone of any age or background to understand how to use technology. They run digital health hubs of around 26 in local care partnerships all over the Leeds area, including several in East Leeds and welcome people to come along to visit them if they need help in this new and tech-focused world.
* a map to show the locations of the different health hubs across the city
They have two jobs that are the bedrock of their organisation.
Firstly they run a drop-in session meeting every Thursday morning from 10 – 1 pm at the Old Fire Station in Gipton, and here people are welcome to come along to ask any questions, get help with their devices or get help with anything about technology. People are encouraged to come along to the drop-in sessions to learn more about the technology we use every day.
Their first session ran on Thursday, 8th June, and takes place on the community hub bus on Thursdays; and is focused on what they can do to signpost people to the best support available.
*The community hub bus, which has laptops inside for people to use and books to take out and order if they aren’t in stock
They are volunteer-run and welcome new volunteers to get on board. Further details of how people can join will be posted below.
100% Digital aims to improve lives by aiding people to understand their tech more by offering support at these sessions. They want to enable people to use their tech and overcome the obstacles of knowledge and experience that many of us take for granted. It is well known that people’s lives can be improved with even a little technology, and 100% digital is there to offer that support.
“Recently, the drop-in sessions helped a lady who knew that she could save money by buying things online, but she didn’t have the confidence to give it a go herself. We helped her create an eBay account, to register her details and showed her how to browse and place an order.
Chris Bamber (100% Digital Leeds)
“100% Digital Leeds is passionate about helping people access and use the digital skills which they need to improve their mental, physical and financial well-being.”
Secondly, 100% digital helps organisations in the local care partnerships become organisations that work together collaboratively to achieve common goals. They work on problems and join the dots together amongst organisations using methods such as health by stealth to enable these organisations to be more technologically advanced, offering a place to use WiFi and technology and have someone help with that. It is about what they want and need and how they will achieve these aims. Another of the aims is to keep an eye out for organisations that don’t have a digital offer at all. In this sense, they want to expand the number of digital health hubs across the region. Essentially 100% digital help to facilitate these organisations to either get things off the ground, keep things going or improve their offer.
*Deacon House in Seacroft is an example of one of the many digital health hubs across Leeds
100% Digital aims to promote its services through word of mouth, recognizing that individuals without access to the internet or computer, or those who are not tech-savvy, may struggle to learn about their drop-in sessions. To address this issue, it is encouraged that people spread the word about the benefits of 100% Digital by talking to others.
Volunteers are welcomed by contacting Chris Bamber
Email: chris@theoldfirestationgipton.org.uk
Phone: 0113 468 5797
