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Digital Champions network to launch during Volunteers Week

Posted onPosted on 1st Jun

If you’re willing to help spread the word about the benefits of the world wide web to people and businesses in your community, you could be a Digital Champion.

Nottinghamshire County Council is beginning the search for an army of web-savvy volunteers on Thursday 4 June, as it launches the Nottinghamshire Digital Champions Network (NDCN) at a free event at Rufford Park Golf Centre (9.30am-1pm).

The launch coincides with Volunteers Week (1-7 June), an initiative aimed at raising awareness about the benefits of volunteering.

Leading digital skills provider, Digital Unite is delivering NDCN on behalf of the County Council. It is hoped that up to 60 Digital champions will be recruited and supported who will help residents and businesses across Nottinghamshire to realise the benefits of being online.

It’s estimated that one in seven people in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire have never used the internet and around 9.5 million people in the UK have poor ‘basic online skills’, meaning that they don’t know how to send an email or search the web.

NDCN is being created to support the £20m Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire programme, which will ensure 97% of homes and businesses in the county have access to good quality, fibre-broadband by April 2018.

At the heart of the network will be an online training platform to develop the essential skills of the Digital Champions, including the information and support they will need to promote more awareness and better understanding of the Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire programme.

Councillor Diana Meale, Chair of the Economic Development Committee at Nottinghamshire County Council said: “Our Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire programme is providing more homes and businesses than ever before with access to good quality broadband, providing new chances to learn, socialise and communicate online.

“However, thousands of people either aren’t aware or lack the skills, confidence or knowledge to access the amazing opportunities the world wide web can provide

“Our Digital Champions Network will train and support a team of local volunteers as Digital Champions, who will help us get the message out to local people about the huge opportunities the internet can provide to them.”

For more information about the Digital Champions Network, register for a free place at the launch event by visiting www.digitalchampionsnetwork.com/nottinghamshire

The event is taking place on Thursday 4 June at Rufford Park Golf Centre, off Rufford Lane near Newark. A limited number of places are available so booking is essential.

The event will include guest speakers, interactive workshops and a buffet lunch. It is open to all individuals and local businesses interested in getting involved or benefiting from the network.

For further information about other volunteering opportunities in Nottinghamshire, visit the website www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/volunteering