Citizens Online

The Exchange Brick Row Stroud Gloucestershire GL5 1DF,

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About

We are a Digital Inclusion and skills charity and aim to ensure that the benefits of the internet and digital technologies are available to everyone and that no-one is left behind in the Digital world we now live in.  We help to support communities who are digitally excluded to access services and health care to improve well being.  Digital inclusion isn’t only about whether people can access the internet: it’s also about their ability to use it. The best way to help digitally-excluded people is to provide one to one support with trusted Digital Champions.

We were founded in year 2000 and have worked with over 60 communities across the UK and Citizens Online have worked with a variety of partners such as Local Authorities, Housing Associations, Job Centre Plus, regional health organisations (e.g. Clinical Commissioning Groups, regional economic organisations), businesses, and third sector organisations to build local digital inclusion partnerships.

Citizens Online has been working in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council, and all seven district councils in the county, including Stronger Communities, Central Libraries and Living Well, to support as many people as possible with digital skills and access to technology. We have conducted research to find out where people in need are in North Yorkshire — England’s largest county — and started connecting a local network of organisations working on digital inclusion. By recruiting and training Digital Champions who can offer one to one support, we are helping residents build the confidence and motivation needed to use technology and the Internet.

Access to devices and data is only part of the solution. It’s essential that people are supported to build confidence, motivation and skills as well to get the most of technology to improve their lives. We’re training Digital Champions in North Yorkshire to provide this support.