Hull’s Digital Champions tenant volunteers are indeed champs! Today they won the Community Focussed Service/Product of the Year in the tpas national awards – tpas being the national experts in tenant participation.
Not content with helping their fellow tenants go online, understand Smart phones and get computer savvy, the Digital Champions teamed up with the Department of Work and Pensions to help job seekers improve their digital skills to search and apply for jobs. The champions offered group and one to one training for DWP clients at Britannia House.
The Digital Champions swung into action during lockdown too by running a digital inclusion scheme, loaning equipment with connectivity to people who weren’t online and showing them how to use it. There is now a small library of laptops with internet connection to loan out free for limited periods of time so tenants can have an internet taster.
Nic Harne, Assistant Director for Neighbourhoods and Housing at Hull City Council said, “Very well done to our tenant champions and the council’s Tenant Participation Team. Winning a national tpas award is a major achievement.
“Helping people get online has such an impact in supporting our residents, from quick and easy access to information, paying bills and saving money through special online purchases to booking a council repair and, importantly, keeping in touch with family and friends.”
If you are a Hull City Council tenant and would like to brush up your internet skills, you can contact the Digital Champions at [email protected]
