The RBH wanted to isolate the problem

In Greater Manchester, 14% of men and 11% of women are likely to experience social isolation. People who live on their own and without internet access have a greater chance of

becoming socially isolated. Especially if they don’t speak to someone daily.

RBH understood the issues surround social exclusion and wanted to make sure they could keep everyone in the Independent Living Schemes connected.

Without wi-fi, lower income families are having to pay more for services because they can’t access the best deals.

The RBH were keen to increase the capacity for people to use the internet and get people online as quickly as possible. This included residents who didn’t have wi-fi and those who were new to the web.

Getting connected

We stepped in to give the RBH a hand. We installed our endto- end managed wi-fi network. We sorted everything. From the internet connection, to equipment to cabling. With our all year round 24/7 helpdesk that’s on hand to help them with everything from setting up devices to finding hotspots, it was the best solution for the RBH.

And we hosted a day called “Tech and Teach”, which we set up to help the community get online and be confident using the internet.

Some residents had devices to access the internet but they lacked the confidence to go online. But with Tech and Teach, that changed. We helped them set up email accounts and learn basic IT skills to encourage them to use the internet. And because there was some worry about getting online, we ran a session on staying safe online too.

Residents get a boost

Now everyone’s feeling a bit more comfortable. Residents use their devices to go on the web and know how to stay safe online. So they have access to all the things they need in this digital era. Like government services and deals that best suit them. So it means their money goes further too. And it means they can interact with friends and family to reduce social isolation.