Digital Friday’s Has Officially Been Launched

Digital Friday’s has officially been launched by Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, Cllr Mark Norris and partners. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The initiative, which is part of the Get RCT Online Partnership, is there to help people get online and develop their IT skills with digital skills becoming increasingly important in today’s society. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of the event, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Library Services were awarded with a Digital Inclusion Charter for the work undertaken by the service to promote digital inclusion. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Mark Norris, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, said: “It gave me great pleasure to join with partners to launch the Digital Friday’s initiative in Mountain Ash Library. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As a Council, we are constantly developing our online services as we recognise that this approach is in line with the demands of our residents. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“However, we also recognise that there are many people who need support to develop the skills and confidence to get online and this is what Digital Friday’s are all about. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Staff and Digital Champions are on hand each week at libraries and other community buildings to help residents and service users get the most out of their smart phones, tablets and to take the next step in their digital journey. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As part of our £200m RCTinvest programme the Council has installed free public access wi-fi in approximately 30 of its buildings, including all libraries, making it easier for people to get online on the go. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Being able to get online opens so many possibilities from applying for jobs to booking a squash court and this important initiative has already been of benefit to a number of people and is proving to be a great example of what can be achieved through effective partnership working.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Digital Friday sessions have already helped individuals make better use of their phone, get online and even successfully apply for a job! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gerard McCarney, who went along to the first Digital Friday session at Mountain Ash Library, said: “The staff helped me quite a bit to get used to using computers as I’ve not really used them much before and they helped me to apply online for a Stock Taking and Driving job – I start on Sunday!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Stephanie Davies, Digital Communities Wales Co-ordination for RCT, said: “We at Digital Communities Wales are delighted to see the launch of Digital Fridays within RCT. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This crucial support gives everyone access to informal digital support to get online. In this increasingly digital world it is great to see so many organisations joining together through the Get RCT Online partnership to deliver such vital support locally.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Digital Communities Wales, run by the Wales Co-operative is the Welsh Government digital inclusion project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Other partners involved with Get RCT Online and Digital Friday’s include: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, Communities First, RCT Libraries, Digital Communities Wales, Newydd Housing, Rhondda Housing Association, Hafod Housing Association, Cynon Taf Housing Association and Trivallis. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​