Sovereign supports silver surfers to stay online

Computer Club residents from Stonehouse in Plymouth are being supported to keep up their surfing skills – online – with a £2,000 grant from housing association Sovereign.

Members regularly get together to brush up their digital skills, learning how to shop, pay bills, and manage their Sovereign account, where they can complete tasks like reporting repairs.

Charlie Bowdidge, Community Development Officer, said: “The residents of Notre Dame House have been running a self-organised computer club since 2011. Anyone who lives in the block can get involved if they choose to, and they also enjoy movie nights and other activities together.

“The funding will be used to ensure that their club can keep running, with some new desktop computers and a regular supply of printer ink. Then the bulk of funding will be put towards the monthly Wi-Fi charge.”

Fiona Brooks-Hastie, a member of the group, said: “We like to use the computers for fun, as well doing useful tasks.”

Sovereign is trebling its investment in communities also including employment and training activities to £3m a year across its geography, stretching from Surrey to Cornwall and as far south as the Isle of Wight.

Groups or charities who live within three miles of a Sovereign property can also apply for funding of up to £5000 via The Good Exchange – for projects like refurbishment, staffing costs or even carnivals. For more information, go to https://app.thegoodexchange.com/funders/10874/sovereign-housing-association