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Digital skills class aims to end exclusion

PA Media A grey-haired man is sat at a computer. The back of his head can be seen and his hands on the laptop keyboard. The laptop is in the background and the screen cannot be seen clearly but shows what appears to be the layout of a webpage.PA Media
The cost of broadband and equipment was a barrier to getting online for some people, according to Citizens Advice

Classes on how to use mobile phones and computers have launched near Doncaster.

People who attended the sessions, run by Citizens Advice in Thorne, said it had become difficult for them to order prescriptions, apply for benefits or access their bank accounts without going online.

The charity said the cost of buying a device and paying for broadband could also be a barrier to internet access.

Andrew Mattholie, 75, who attended the workshop, said he felt "left out of a lot of opportunities" because he did not use social media.

"There are situations where a provider is giving special deals which I don’t know about, mainly to do with car insurance and keeping up with energy costs," Mr Mattholie said.

He added that he felt excluded from meeting up with friends because he did not have a Facebook account.

Emma Doyle/University of Sheffield Three women and one man are sat on chairs facing to the right. The man is wearing glasses and speaking into a microphone while gesturing with his other hand. He has some papers on his knee. Two men are sat facing him in the foreground.Emma Doyle/University of Sheffield
People who took the classes said they struggled to access banking and health services if they could not get online

Sue Bull, 69, said being unable get online had "affected [her] quite a lot".

“People are telling you to download an app, for prescriptions or online banking, but how do you download it? What do you do?" she said.

The digital skills classes aim to increase people's confidence and students are provided with tablets when they complete the course.

The cost of getting online was also a barrier to some people, Ray Irwin of Citizens Advice said.

"Getting on to the internet, you’re looking at £20-£30 a month to get on to broadband."

Council tax reduction or housing benefits could only be applied for online in many parts of Britain, which would shut out people who needed them the most, he said.

'Big challenge'

Ian McHugh, who attended one of the digital skills events, said his cousin had been unable to use her bank account for about four months after the business closed its local branch, because she could not use online banking.

“She can't continue to access her bank account, so in effect I'm having to pay things for her and hope that I can get paid back,” Mr McHugh said.

“People assume that everyone is online, that it's simple. But for some people it really is a big challenge.”

Banks were committed to ensuring there was continued access to services in person through shared hubs and other initiatives, according to a spokesperson for trade association UK Finance.

Molly Pipe/BBC Five people are sat around a table and one man is standing near the table. Four of the people are looking at digital tablets on which there is a video call. In the background there is a row of three desktop computers.Molly Pipe/BBC
Tablets were given to people who completed the course to help them put their new digital skills to use

The course will run at other sites across South Yorkshire, a Citizens Advice spokesperson said.

The charity also urged organisations to provide non-digital versions of resources such as paper leaflets or services that can be accessed over the phone.

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