Become a Digital Champion
Find out how you can develop your skills and help people in your community to get online.
As a volunteer Digital Champion, you’ll help people learn to use mobile phones, tablets, and computers so they can benefit from the internet and access online services safely.
How you can help
- online shopping and internet safety.
- email, texts, and social media.
- video calling
- streaming services like BBC iPlayer and Netflix.
- digital CVs and online job searches.
Anyone can be a Digital Champion – our current volunteers include Clarion residents, university students, and retired people.
Being a Digital Champion is a great way to connect with your community and make new friends, as you get to work with a broad range of people in different settings such as community centres, sheltered housing schemes, and job clubs.
It’s also a great way to develop your own work and communication skills while gaining valuable work-related experience.
How to apply
If you’d like to be a Digital Champion, please email our Clarion Futures Digital team. A member of our team will then contact you to talk about your digital skills and to discuss the scheme in more detail.
You need to be over 18, and before you start you’ll need to pass a basic DBS check.
Training and support
You don’t need to be a computer expert to become a Digital Champion, you just need a passion for helping other people.
You’ll be provided with training on safeguarding, internet safety, and the best way to work with your learners. After this, we’ll give you an induction and match you with possible placements.
We’ll support you whenever you need and you’ll also be part of our Digital Champion network across the country, who can offer help, advice, and support.
Meet Hilary, Digital Champion of the Year
Hilary is a Clarion resident. She volunteers as a Digital Champion at one of our LiveSmart schemes for older people. In 2019,Hilary was named Clarion Futures Digital Champion of the Year. The award recognises the outstanding effort of our Digital Champions.
Hilary spends two days a week helping residents to get online and develop digital skills. She works with a range of residents, including those with:
- sight impairments
- epilepsy
- arthritis
- depression.
Her friendly manner gives learners the confidence to use their new digital skills. This in turn helps them to stay in touch with family members and use online services - all of which enriches their lives.
Being online can make such a difference to people in so many ways.
Hilary
Digital Champion