Blackburn with Darwen residents offered free IT training

People in Blackburn with Darwen can access free support across key public venues.

The Information Technology inclusion drive is being co-ordinated by Blackburn with Darwen Council as part of the national ‘Get Online Week’ which starts on Monday (October 20).

Lots of free support is on offer at venues across the borough to help people with no digital access to upskill and grow their confidence.

A wide range of partners in Blackburn with Darwen borough are delivering a variety of skills-building sessions.

This includes drop-in support sessions, topic-focused sessions such as online banking and digital skills and employability, and longer-term digital skills courses.

Some 52 per cent of UK adults don’t have essential digital skills for work, and millions still face barriers to digital confidence, from fear of AI to not feeling safe online – so says Good Things Foundation, which leads Get Online Week every October.

The aim of Get Online Week from October 20 to 26 is to help people take practical steps to build their confidence and independence with navigating the online world.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s digital and customer services boss Cllr Shaukat Hussain said: “Research from Good Things Foundation highlights how low digital confidence and skills can impact people finding and taking job opportunities, making savings and getting involved in online activities.

“Getting online and learning new digital skills can help you to save money on your bills, find work, stay in touch with friends and family and much, much more – but it can be hard to know where to turn if you need some help to get started.

“I’m really pleased that through Blackburn with Darwen’s Digital Inclusion Network, partners have mobilised to offer a range of activities and learning opportunities during Get Online Week to support people who want to boost their digital skills.”

Blackburn with Darwen’s free Get online Week activities include:

Events in Blackburn Central Library:

Digital Resources Promotion BorrowBox & Comics Plus

Monday October 20 from 11am to 12pm and 2pm to 3pm;

Library Online Resources

Monday October 20 10am;

Online Banking with Halifax

Tuesday, October 21 10am;

Affordable Internet

Wednesday, October 22 10am;

Reminiscence Session – ‘Blackburn Library: Pages from the Past’

Thursday, October 23 10am;

Introduction to Ancestry

Friday, October 24 10am

Green Libraries

Saturday, October 25 11am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 3pm

More events across various venues include:

Blackburn with Darwen Adult Learning

ICT Skills & Job Club

Tuesday October 21 from 9:30–11:30am at Darwen Community Helpers; Wednesday October 22  Bank Top NLC from 9:30–11:30am and Thursday October 23 1–3pm at Audley NLC/

Blackburn with Darwen Adult Learning

Essential Digital Skills – Digital Communication

 Starts Wednesday October 23 , 9:30–11:30am for two  weeks at various venues.

Age UK

Online Safety Information Stall

Wednesday October22, 10am–12:30pm in Blackburn Mall

All Blackburn with Darwen Libraries

 Daily “Get Online Week” Sessions

Monday – Friday 10am and 2pm on Frida

IMO Charity

Feeling Confident Online – Interactive SEND Session

Sunday October 26, 3–5pm at Blackburn Youth Zone.