Support someone else

We’ve created a range of resources to help you introduce someone else to the internet for the first time.

 

9 million people in the UK cannot use the internet without help (Lloyds CDI, 2020)

You don't have to be an expert to help someone else to use the internet. On this page, you'll find useful resources to help you get started.

By supporting even one person, you are helping to fix the digital divide.

We’ve put together some tips and tricks to help you get started.

Use their hobbies and interests to motivate them

The person you’re sitting with will be more motivated to learn how to use their device if you show them how it will have a positive effect on their everyday life.

Does the person like gardening? Show them a gardening website. Cooking? Show them some cooking tutorials on YouTube. Relating skills back to real life examples will also help motivate people to learn more.

Be patient

Patience is key when showing someone anything new for the first time, and using a device and the internet is no different. People learn in different ways and at different speeds. Some will pick it up straight away while others like to go over things a few times to make sure they’ve got it right. Appreciating this and congratulating them on little milestones will help keep people on track and their confidence increasing.

Don’t expect too much too quickly

If someone’s never used a device or the internet before, they won’t become confident using it on their own straight away. As with any new skill, it takes time to develop the knowledge needed to feel good about using the internet. Managing their expectations will help prevent them from feeling like they’re not understanding it quick enough or that it’s too much to learn.

Be aware of tools to help you help them

There are lots of resources and tools on the internet to help people get to grips with their device and the internet. Have a look around and see what you can find to help them broaden their knowledge and increase their confidence.

 

 

Guide: Using games to teach tablet skills

This guide is designed to help you to introduce older people to tablet computers by using games. It doesn’t matter if you’re helping friends or family members, people you live with, or people you support as part of your job or a volunteering role.

 

Guide: Helping older people to use the internet

Inside this guide, you’ll find lots of tips on how to get started. There’s also advice if you’re interested in setting up long-term learning for a group of older people.

You don’t need to be a computer expert to be able to provide good help. If you feel confident using the internet by yourself, you know enough.

 

Reboot UK Digital Inclusion cards

These cards are for organisations that want to offer support to improve people’s digital skills. They’re a conversation starter for a group of staff or volunteers. They demonstrate that helping people to improve their digital skills can take different forms.

The cards were developed to be used by people who will provide digital skills support.

 

Helping others guides

Created in collaboration with the BT Group, we've created a range of online guides to help your service users get the most of the internet.

Embedding digital inclusion into the existing offer at your organisation

Good Things Foundation has worked closely with our network partners to create a range of remote support resources to help organisations deliver digital skills support online.

This includes guides, tips, courses, documents, advice and other useful resources to use when teaching people digital skills when you can not be in the same room together.

  1. How to set up a virtual coffee morning
  2. How to set up an Online Cooking club
  3. How to offer virtual employability advice
  4. How to launch a remote learning programme
  5. How to transfer from face-to-face support to remote delivery
  6. How to ace a Zoom interview