For many older people, being able to use a smartphone, tablet or computer confidently can make a real difference to everyday life. From keeping in touch with family and friends to managing money, booking holidays and accessing important services, more and more of life is taking place online.

Our 12-week project with Housing 21 provides informal digital skills training alongside regular drop-in sessions. The sessions give residents the opportunity to learn at their own pace, ask questions, practise new skills and, importantly, have someone there to help when things don’t go to plan.

For Carol, one of the biggest benefits of being online is keeping in touch with family:

“It’s much easier to get in touch with people like family and friends. I can go on social media and see my great-grandchildren, which is great.”

For other learners, digital technology has made everyday tasks quicker and easier. Pam said:

“Online banking has been brilliant. It saves all the paperwork and is much faster.”

Clive also uses online banking across different devices:

“I do online banking on both my phone and my computer.”

The project isn’t about expecting people to become digital experts overnight. It’s about building confidence through small steps and giving people the opportunity to try things for themselves.

Clive explained how the sessions have helped him become more willing to try something new:

“I feel much more confident doing things online and trying things. I wasn’t sure what QR codes were, but I can see they’re not too complicated. It’s just trying new things, but having someone here makes it easier and less stressful.”

Rita summed up the value of learning regularly:

“We have learned so much. Even if it’s just one thing each week, it makes a big difference.”

The impact isn’t always about learning complicated technology. Sometimes, a simple change can make a significant difference to someone’s everyday experience.

One learner told us:

“We’re all older here now, so learning new things can be hard. The sessions have made a big difference in being able to use our phones. I’ve managed to make the letters bigger in the settings, and I’ve learnt how to use Do Not Disturb. It’s been great.”

For Sue, the confidence gained through the sessions helped her make a bigger decision about her technology. She decided to get a new phone that better suited her needs:

“Coming along to the sessions has given me the confidence to get a new phone which is more suitable for my needs. I didn’t like my old one as it was too heavy.”

It’s a great example of how digital inclusion is about more than simply knowing which buttons to press. Having the confidence to make choices about technology can help people find solutions that work for them.

As well as helping people make the most of technology, the sessions provide an opportunity to talk openly about online safety.

Learners recognise that scams can be difficult to spot. Clive shared his experience of trying to book a holiday:

“Being scammed worries me. Yesterday I was trying to book a holiday and I thought it was Booking.com, but it turned out it wasn’t. I deleted it, but it is so easy to get caught out.”

Other learners have developed simple strategies to protect themselves. Betty said:

“If I see a number I don’t know, I just wouldn’t do it.”

And Rita told us:

“I wouldn’t click on any links that I don’t know.”

These conversations help learners recognise that it’s okay to stop, ask for help and check something before taking action.

Small steps, big differences

The Housing 21 project shows the importance of creating a relaxed and supportive environment where older people can learn without feeling under pressure.

Whether it’s making the text on a phone easier to read, understanding QR codes, using online banking, staying connected with family or recognising a potential scam, every new skill can make a difference.

As the project continues, learners are developing not only their digital skills, but also their confidence to explore, ask questions and try something new.

This Older People’s Day, we’re celebrating every small step towards greater digital confidence and independence.