Our volunteering lead, Clara shares an “afternoon in the life” during #Digitober… complete with biscuits!
Today felt like one of those quietly heart-warming days that remind me why I love being part of the Digital Champions team at Bramhall Library.
I snapped two photos to capture the moment. The first one shows Dawn, David (our brand-new Digital Champion), and me grinning together, all a bit flushed from a busy morning of troubleshooting and teaching. The second is of Steven, one of our library learners, proudly holding a tin of biscuits he brought in as a thank-you gift for the team.
Steven’s story made us all smile. A while back, we’d helped him book his medical appointments online, something that had felt daunting for him at first. Today, he was working away confidently on one of the library PCs, navigating it all by himself. Before he left, he said he’d be back soon to ask us about price-comparison websites so he can check he’s getting the best deal on his mobile phone plan.
David, meanwhile, jumped right in on his first day as a Champion. He supported a learner who wanted to master the basics of her phone, especially how to silence it before a trip to the cinema and how to turn it on and off more quickly.
Dawn was, as ever, a whirlwind of support. She worked with three learners today: one needed help with WhatsApp to stay in touch with family, another was learning the ropes of Microsoft Word, and the third needed to access important information from her emails. All three left smiling, but my favourite moment was hearing one woman say:
“That was wonderfully helpful, thank you. I’ll be back next week.”
There’s something really special about these everyday wins, seeing people grow more confident with their phones and computers, watching their independence grow bit by bit. And sometimes it’s as simple as helping someone make sure their phone doesn’t ring during a film!
I left the library feeling grateful for the team and for the community that keeps showing up with curiosity (and sometimes biscuits). It’s a reminder that small steps can make a big difference, and that learning is always better shared.
Some people wonder why we run digital support sessions in communities like Bramhall, an area that looks comfortable on paper. But digital exclusion isn’t just about income, it’s often about confidence, especially for older neighbours.
Helping someone book a GP appointment online, silence their phone at the cinema, or find a better mobile deal has a ripple effect: it eases pressure on services, saves money, reduces loneliness, and helps people stay independent. We believe that no one should be left behind simply because they never had the chance to learn. Every small breakthrough we see at the library, often over a cup of tea and a biscuit, is an investment in dignity, connection, and community and that is what we are all about.
The digital champion programme is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.