For some, supporting a friend or relative to get online might not seem like fun but for me it really is, and I get to do it as part of my working week; how lucky am I?

For almost 5 years I’ve been helping strangers get online, learn how to use a new phone and stay connected with loved ones. From step one, how to turn it on right through to the advanced step of how to build a community website, from online shopping to project planning and from video calling to creating a family tree and so much more besides. 

One of my early clients, on our first meeting said, ‘I’m not sure what we’re going to do, I can’t even turn this thing on’. Well, after a chat we were able to go through the basics and by the end of week 3 they were able to start a video call so they could keep connected to their family.

The way I work is completely person centred, that means I do not have a set plan or course for you to follow, I talk to you about what you need and want to be able to do with the technology. 

I had one client tell me they wanted to learn how to use Excel for spreadsheets, when I asked why, they said someone had told them it was a good skill. I asked what for and they had no idea. I explained that I could help them learn Excel but without a purpose, it would be quickly forgotten and we would have wasted their time. So, we had a chat and I learnt about their skill and passion for cake making, they showed me photos I could see they had a real talent.

They were baking for friends and family but they wanted to grow the business, and make it the main income stream. I suggested that the photos should be online.  At this suggestion, I saw their eyes light up and then they said, ‘can you do that?,’ ‘No’, I said, ‘but you can’. And that was it, a Facebook business page was created, and their photos uploaded; the business was born. 

Another client wanted to be able to look back at the places they had lived in their lifetime, some 90+ years so I taught them how to use Google Maps. The feature of street view allows you to be ‘on the street’ and see images of how the buildings and open spaces look now. They were thrilled and by the end of several sessions, they took me on a tour of their life, including a hotel in Spain they’d visited on retirement. 

These really are just a few examples of how much my clients have achieved, so if you’d like to get online, do get in touch.