New drop-in session provides free digital support for Alresford residents
A new regular digital drop-in session run by Winchester City Council is helping Alresford residents troubleshoot their technology issues.
The new session takes place on the first Friday of every month at Makins Court in Alresford, with anyone welcome to come along and get support with their digital issues.
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Residents can bring along their phones and laptops and speak to one of the council’s digital champions for support with everyday digital tasks such as navigating the internet, setting up apps or devices or completing online tasks.
The digital champions are also able to identify more complex problems and refer people to AbilityNet, a free digital support charity, if issues can’t be solved there and then.
The session in Alresford joins another monthly drop-in session that takes place every second Tuesday of the month at King Harold Court in Winchester, with a third regular session set to kick off in December at the city council offices on Colebrook Street, starting 5 December 12.30 to 2.30pm, running every first Thursday of the month.
Among attendees at the most recent session was Iris, an Alresford resident, who wanted to better understand how to manage the apps on her phone.
Speaking about the help she received, Iris said:
“I came with two specific problems that I was having, and both have been rectified just by the session so it’s been so productive and so, so helpful”
The drop-ins themselves are part of the council’s wider efforts to support social and digital inclusion in communities across the district, with a number of regular community support hubs also taking place in Wickham, Alresford and Winchester where residents can come for advice and support on housing and the cost of living.
Speaking about the sessions, cabinet member for Housing Cllr Chris Westwood said:
“Digital technology is a big part of modern life and it can be an amazing tool for things like accessing services and connecting with our loved ones”
“By opening our second monthly digital drop-in in Alresford, we’re helping to ensure more of our residents can make use of digital technology and the benefits it brings, as well as adding to our wider roster of community support sessions across the district”
Full details of the digital drop-ins, community hubs, and other support sessions being run by the city council can be at: www.winchester.gov.uk/community-hubs