A NEW partnership in Ilkley is expanding the reach of a project which helps older people learn how to get online.

The Worth Connecting project is a Big Lottery-funded partnership between Carers’ Resource, Age UK, The Welcome Project and 3C, and supports clients over 55 to learn how to use the internet to contact family and friends, connect with local groups and use services such as online shopping.

They have a focus on reducing isolation and improving mental health. A free service, the project supports people who have never used a device before, as well as those with very basic skills. Working with clients one-to-one at home, or in a group, they help people to get to grips with the device and learn how to access the things they want.

Ilkley & District Good Neighbours (IDGN) had already been thinking about how to help their clients to use technology to enhance their daily lives, seeking funding to show people how to shop online as part of their ShopAssist scheme. Josephine Loughran, a trustee of IDGN, became aware of Worth Connecting and realised that a partnership between the two projects could benefit their clients. Josephine said: “Ilkley is some distance from Bradford and Keighley, the larger urban areas with which it is associated, so it is sometimes more challenging to deliver programmes in the town. Because IDGN already has both volunteers and clients in Ilkley, we thought we could work with Worth Connecting on their initiative. IDGN is committed to supporting independence and alleviating loneliness, so the Worth Connecting project dovetails well with this.”

Hannah Crabtree, of the Worth Connecting Project, visited IDGN’s Moving On group to talk about the sessions and to hear about why people want to get online. The project attracted a lot of interest from the people attending the group, as well as from the volunteers who support the IDGN scheme. Eight volunteers have now signed up and are delivering one-to-one sessions across the Ilkley area. Hannah said: “Working in partnership with IDGN lets us get out to see many more people in the Ilkley area. It also improves the service we offer to our clients in Ilkley, as having local volunteers means our clients get to hear about other groups, projects and services that might help them.”

The partnership is also working with Abbeyfield The Dales, who will be hosting the first Worth Connecting group in Ilkley, beginning in June.

For more information about the one-to-one sessions or groups, contact Hannah Crabtree on 01274 449660. To discuss volunteering for IDGN, contact 01943 603348 or via info@goodneighboursilkley.org.uk