Click Connect Discover

Nearly 9 million people in the UK have never used the internet. This includes 800,000 in Wales.

The chances are you will know an internet beginner: If none of your family, friends or neighbours need your help, why not offer your time to a local charity, community organisation, social club or a scheme?

You don’t need to be an IT whizz to be someone's digital champion.

The knack is to find a site or service that helps with their interests so they can understand what's wonderful about the web.

We’ve put together a selection of interesting websites, geared towards older people, but everyone will find something useful there.

You might also find some of our toolkits and guides useful as print-out-and-keep guides for the person you are helping.

Do you want to pass your second hand computer on to someone else? It is advisable to wipe your computer’s memory before you give it away. You can do this by taking it to a specialist data removal company.

If you are more familiar with IT, you can remove data yourself using the original disk supplied with the computer. You can also use a tool such as Eraser (external website) to remove data by overwriting it.

Communities 2.0 run training sessions for those who would like to be more involved in becoming a Digital Champion: Train the trainer - Digital Champion and Circuit Rider training

Why should someone get online?

• 7 million job ads appeared online last year. You now need computer skills for 90% of new jobs, and good computer skills can increase your earnings by 25%.

• 16 million of us are already watching TV or listening to the radio through the web.

• Government public information is moving online – you’ll increasingly need to access the web to do everything from influencing decisions that affect your area to collecting benefits.

• 25 million people in the UK make social connections through Facebook (only the US has more).

• Households save up to £560 a year shopping and paying bills online.

• 3.1 million people over 65 go more than a week without seeing family, friends or neighbours. The Internet can empower people to get connected so there's no need to feel lonely

More information

Go On Digital Champions (external website)

Pass IT on handbook (external website) from go-on.co.uk

ICT Champions (external website)

Communities 2.0 'How to...' series of guides, toolkits, videos and useful website help you help other people get online and learn about technology.

Age UK have advice (external website) on finding the best broadband, TV or phone deal for someone you know or phone Simplifydigital on 0800 090 1302.

BBC Webwise – getting connected (external website)

Abilitynet (external website) – making your computer easier to use.

BBC (external website) accessibility - making the web easier to use.

Affordable computers:

PCXUK: Refurbished PCs with Win7 from £90 (external website)  Help someone buy online or tell them to call 01443 816 100.

computerrecyclers.co.uk (external website) or 01443 434 675.