The students have really enjoyed it and want to keep going next year. It’s been great to see them grow in confidence.
A new Digital Essex Community DigiHub has recently launched in Ingatestone offering free support to help people get online and feel more confident using digital tools like the NHS app, internet banking, email, and online appointment booking. The hub is open every Tuesday from 12:30pm to 1:30pm at the Ingatestone and Fryerning Community Centre.
Students from Anglo European School in Ingatestone have been giving up their time to volunteer at the hub as Digital Champions.
Volunteering at the DigiHub has given them a chance to help others while learning new skills themselves. Assistant Headteacher Stephanie Nichols said,
“The students have really enjoyed it and want to keep going next year. It’s been great to see them grow in confidence.”
The volunteers have helped local people with all sorts of digital problems. One student helped a man print his cruise tickets just in time for his holiday. Another showed someone how to send emails to her daughter in Singapore. Some helped people set up social media accounts to promote their small businesses. One student said,
“I helped someone use the basic functions on their iPhone. They left feeling much more confident.”
Volunteering has also helped the students learn how to explain things clearly and be patient. They’ve built strong connections with the people they have helped. Stephanie Nichols said,
“People come back not just for tech support, but to have a chat with someone young. It gets them out of the house and gives them a reason to smile.”
The Ingatestone and Fryerning DigiHub is more than just a place to get help with technology – it’s a space where people feel welcome, supported, and part of the community.
If you’d like to volunteer or find out more, email digital@essex.gov.uk or for more volunteering opportunities in the county, visit Volunteer Essex.