The Digital Brighton & Hove project provides innovative solutions and services for digitally excluded people across the city. Through cross-sector partnership work, they’re building a network of trained Digital Champions in local communities to support service users, staff and volunteers with their digital transformation journeys. DBH is funded by Brighton & Hove City Council and until 2019 was also funded by the National Lottery Community Fund (through the One Digital programme).
Local resident Bob was a Brighton & Hove City Councillor for 24 years. He also served as Mayor of Brighton during 2005/2006, and he also holds the title of Honorary Alderman.
Since retiring, Bob has been attending the Digital Brighton & Hove Gadget Workshops held at Hazelholt, with his dog, Rebus. The residents really look forward to their visits and Rebus is a firm favourite at these events.
Prior to attending these sessions, he was only using the internet for email and some general research.
One of Bob’s passions is animals and their behaviour – every night he leaves a tray of food in his garden for the local wildlife, and then films their activities.
His first question for the Digital Brighton & Hove team was how he can share this interest in nature with a wider audience. The team helped him by showing him how to post his videos and pictures using social media; using Facebook and YouTube.
Bob’s regular posts on social media, which are receiving a lot of attention and praise, have also led to other developments.
The University of Brighton were very interested in his activities and are currently using his garden to perform various studies on the wildlife that visit, and they regularly ask Bob to supply evidences to aid their research.
Bob also found his new online skills useful for finding advice that is not easily available through conventional sources. He also uses an online app to assist Edinburgh University in a study of monitoring blood pressure.
Regarding the major benefits of being online, Bob commented: “It gives you a whole new life.”
Digital Brighton & Hove is a partnership which helps people of all ages to feel more confident using the internet. If you would like to improve your digital skills, email digitalbh@citizensonline.org.uk or call 07475 946 084.
