A NEW collaborative programme to train hundreds of Digital Champions to help thousands of people across Gwynedd to get online has been officially launched this week.

One Digital is a unique collaboration between six organisations to create a sustainable and far reaching digital inclusion solution.

Age UK, the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations, Citizens Online and Digital Unite with its partners Affinity Sutton and AbilityNet have joined forces to develop the One Digital programme which will recruit, train and support 1,400 Digital Champions nationwide.

One Digital is funded by £2 million from the Big Lottery Fund and will help around 9,500 people in the UK develop basic digital skills.

Each One Digital Partner will deliver individual and bespoke projects but all of the Digital Champions within the One Digital programme will access one single training and support network that provides structured courses, extensive resources and dedicated mentor support.

As part of the One Digital Programme, Citizens Online is working with Digital Gwynedd, and has established a local partnership of Gwynedd Council, Digital Communities Wales, Jobcentre Plus, Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd, Grwp Cynefin, Citizens Advice, Mantell Gwynedd and many local organisations. The partnership will recruit, train and support “digital champions” to help people in Gwynedd to develop their digital skills.

The Gwynedd team will focus on supporting people affected by benefit changes, and those people living in rural localities.

Cllr Ioan Thomas, Cabinet member for housing, customer care and libraries, deprivation and equality, for Gwynedd Council said: “We recognise the need to support people to develop digital skills whilst helping partners to improve delivery of services through online transactions. The project is building a strong local partnership to help support communities at risk of digital exclusion.

"Digital Champions will be available to offer coaching at local access points and help people do more online.”

Jordan Eardley, Gwynedd Digital Champion added: “Helping other people to see how they can find information about bus timetables, email photos to their family or order their shopping online is really rewarding.

"Sometimes people find it difficult to complete the online forms that they need to access benefits or look for work, and we can help with these too.”

Digital Gwynedd is currently looking for new volunteers to support their work in the area. We are looking for friendly and enthusiastic people to help local learners to learn about computers and how to get online.

If you are interested in volunteering for Digital Gwynedd contact Daniel Richards, project co-ordinator on [email protected] or call 07854 690529.