Charity hopes to remove rural 'digital poverty'

A charity says it hopes to remove "digital poverty" in its local area by helping rural communities to have more access to services.

Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (GRCC) has handed out £3.2m of free SIM cards and offers workshops to those unsure of how to get online, through its project Daisi.

Working in partnership with Age UK, social services and local libraries, the project also refurbishes and reallocates digital devices to those in need.

Daniel Gale, digital equity manager at GRCC, said that while some people did not want to be online, the work the charity did was all about allowing people to "make an informed choice".

"Individuals who might be on benefits can get discounted broadband as well as data for their mobile phones," he said.

"The same way you would have ramps into buildings, we need to make sure, across the county, through Daisi and other projects, that there's ramps into the internet so everybody is secure and safe in the way they use it," Mr Gale added.

The charity has also introduced a Digital and Technology Social Prescribing Link Worker, who works with local GPs at North Cotswolds Primary Care Network to identify those who are most in need of technology support.

Lauren Woods, digital and technology navigator for GRCC, who works in the Tewkesbury area, said the prescriber provided home visits and even supported those on end-of-life care by upskilling loved ones who normally would not be digitally knowledgeable.

"We are getting more and more referrals where somebody needs upskilling to protect things like photos and to ensure access to bank accounts - to be able to pay bills.

"Because if somebody doesn't have the digital skills to do that, when somebody passes away that can add an extra stress to an already upsetting situation," she added.

Ms Woods also holds drop-in sessions for those unsure how to use the internet, mobile devices or laptops in Highnam, Shurdington and at Priors Park Neighbourhood Project in Tewkesbury.

Ms Woods said her role was all about supporting the community, especially those who were "fearful" of being online.

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