It’s not just bikes that you can get repaired through Heeley Trust!
18 October is International Repair Day; where thousands of volunteers worlwide will be taking action to help members of their community repair broken or slow devices.
During our digital drop-ins on 14 and 16th October, our digital volunteers contributed by also being on hand to help anyone with a laptop that is unable to upgrade to Windows 11. From October 14th onwards Microsoft has ended free support for Windows 10. This controversial move could put millions of competers/laptops on the path to obselescence, as users will need to pay to extend security updates or find themselves vulnerable to cyber attacks.
We have a fantastic team of 5 digital volunteers who, supported by our volunteer coordinator Jim, provide digital assistance to the Trust and Heeley/Gleadless community. Originally part of our Digital Inclusion project, the digital drop ins are one of the ways Heeley Trust works to give local people the skills, confidence and device access they need to get online. In an increasingly techonology focused world, access to online spaces means access to vital social and private services and job opportunities. Being digitally excluded therefore can lead an already vulnerable person to have fewer job opportunities, worse health outcomes, and face social isolation.
Whether helping individuals get online using their own or loaned devices, or offering a wide range of technical support, the sessions aim to boost confidence and build digital skills across the community.
This year, our volunteers have also helped us with the following acheivements:
- Upgraded the public computer room with new infrastructure, including a GDPRcompliant file security system.
- Facilitated the distribution of smartphones given out as part of the National Device Bank scheme.
- Implemented a new procedure for loaning laptops to community members.