TELEPHONE help is being offered for older people in Keighley wanting to use tablets and smartphones or master the Internet.

Worth Connecting has moved onto the phone lines after three years delivering face-to-face advice sessions to over-55s.

The organisation has teamed up with charities operating locally to provide the free phone service across Bradford district during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Project development worker Andy Sheppard said Worth Connecting Remote was set up in response to difficulties some older people have faced keep in touch during lockdown.

He said it was building on the success of Worth Connecting, which helped anyone aged over 55 learn to use tablets, smartphones and laptops to help relieve feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Mr Sheppard said the service was being provided in partnership with Positive Minds, Carers Resource and Age UK.

He said: “Many people now realise how the internet can benefit them in many aspects of life.

“This includes helping people learn the very basics of using a tablet or smartphone, ordering food and arranging delivery, keeping in touch with friends and family using video meeting apps such as Zoom and Google Meet, and ordering prescriptions and talking to medical professionals from their own homes.  “We aim to reduce feelings of anxiety over using devices and the internet. Our goal is to help people become more confident and resilient during these difficult times.”

Mr Sheppard said that as social distancing was gradually relaxed, he hoped that Worth Connecting could deliver advice to groups face-to-face in the future.

He urged people to get in touch so they could take up the offer of free advice through Worth Connecting Remote.

He added: “If you think you might benefit from this or know someone over 55 who could do with some help using the Internet or devices including tablets and smartphones, please get in touch.”

Worth Connecting was set up by older people’s support network Positive Minds in 2014, helping link Worth Valley residents with interest groups in their area, via technology such as Skype.

For further information, call Carers’ Resource to reach Worth Connecting Remote on 01274 449660, or email info@worthconnecting.org.