A LOCAL charity dedicated to supporting older people through wellbeing and social clubs has expanded its online get togethers and skills sessions, making its service more accessible.

Thanks to funding from Virgin Media O2, Brendoncare, has extended the array of online social clubs, tech tablets and dedicated 1-1 digital skills sessions it offers, helping older people to get online for the very first time and connect with friends and family.

The registered charity, based in Victoria Road, Winchester, aims to improve the quality of life for the older generation through care homes, extra care housing and social clubs in the South of England.

When the pandemic hit, the local organisation had to adapt its sessions and services to work virtually.

Prior to the restrictions, the charity only organised in-person sessions at its centres across Hampshire and Dorset – meaning that people had to travel to come along.

In March 2020, to protect its members, many of who were clinically vulnerable to Covid-19, and ensure that the care charity could continue to offer its services during lockdown, Brendoncare moved its entire programme online.

Sara Nicolls, community support service manager at Brendoncare, said: “For many older people using tech is challenging, but in the pandemic, it became an essential skill to help keep people connected.

“Thanks to the grant from Virgin Media O2, we’ve been able to run sessions remotely over Zoom, loan tech out to several of our members to get them online and, through our fantastic volunteering programme, run 1:1 digital sessions.

“This has helped hundreds of people including one gentleman, who prior to lockdown had never been online before and at first, struggled with the basics like using upper- and lower-case letters on his tablet.

“We ran several digital sessions over the phone in lockdown to help him build up his confidence with his tablet, enabling him to get online and join in our social clubs. Today, not only does he own his own tablet – but he uses it for everything from checking the news and watching content on YouTube.”

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One member said: “I love online clubs, they were a saviour during the pandemic and now equally as enjoyable as the in-person clubs I attend.”

The grant from Virgin Media O2’s Together Fund, which provided donations of £1,000 or more to 400 charities nationwide, enabled Brendoncare to invest in video calling software to run virtual sessions, as well as tablets to lend out to members without access to technology.

Hampshire Chronicle:

Nicola Green, chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “One year on from the launch of our Together Fund, it’s wonderful to see how charities up and down the country – including Brendoncare - have used our grants to drive meaningful, positive change in their communities.

“Whether it’s through supporting community groups, encouraging our people to spend five days a year volunteering or investing in programmes working to eradicate digital poverty, at Virgin Media O2, we’re committed to making our business better for people, communities and the planet.” 

Following the £1000 grant in June 2021, the Winchester charity now runs 27 social clubs online a month such as friendship club, singing, cook along, quizzes and nature clubs. More than 160 people join in each month, including many new members since the online development. Having virtual sessions allowed members to feel connected and continue socialising at a time when many people were unable to leave their homes.

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Using the tablets, the charity has been able to help 13 people get online for the first time. Meanwhile, through more than 60 digital connection sessions, the charity has taught everything from the basics of getting on Zoom, to using a search engine or watching Netflix.

Despite the end of lockdown, the success of the online sessions means the charity will continue to run them as well as the in-person groups. Brendoncare is now recruiting for a Digital Support Officer to join their team full time.  

For more information on Brendoncare go to brendoncare.org.uk/.

Virgin Media’s Together Fund, supports local charities that help to limit loneliness and isolation, encourage community belonging and are environmentally aware.

For more go to neighbourly.com/VMO2TogetherFund.