North Wales Housing races on digital journey
North Wales Housing have upped their digital game and signed and achieved accreditation to the ‘Digital Communities Wales Digital Inclusion Charter’.
The Charter is for organisations in Wales which are promoting basic digital skills and helping people get online. By signing the charter North Wales Housing are agreeing to support the six principles of the Digital Inclusion Charter and to actively work to promote basic digital skills and get people online.
This is the latest step in NWH’s digital journey, which began back in early 2014, when the decision was made to go digital for its annual review.
Brett Sadler, Assistant Director Communities explained:
“Before this thousands of printed copies were printed and posted out. By developing a digital only Annual Review, and offering hard copies for those who request it, we are saving the organisation money as well as being more mindful of the environmental impact.”
A group of tenants have since took part in the ‘Digital First’ group, who helped review, refresh and re-launch ‘My NWH’, the award winning tenants portal, develop Digital First Strategy as well as help re-develop the North Wales Housing website.
Brett Sadler, Assistant Director Communities and lead for digital at North Wales Housing, explained:
“Our aim isn’t to force our tenants to go online, but to encourage and support them. It is estimated that a household could save an average of £560 a year just by being online.”
“For some of our older tenants, being more digitally aware could mean making it easier to keep in touch with family and friends, maybe connecting with long lost friends again via Facebook!”
So what’s next for NWH’s ‘digital journey’? In October 2016 NWH recruited a Digital Officer, Sioned Williams, who has worked on many Welsh Government digital inclusion projects, to make the digital journey a little bit easier. She will be working with residents and staff, tailoring activities to their needs.
Sioned Williams, Digital Officer said:
“I was really excited to get started in my role as Digital Officer. I am passionate about digital inclusion and believe that being digitally included opens so many doors – but at the same time, it’s about working with individuals to find what’s in it for them, and not pushing them to do everything online if they don’t want to.”
“For now, I will focus on delivering appropriate training to staff and residents, promote digital services within the organisation and set up digital projects within the schemes – and then eventually go wherever the role takes me!”
Sioned has already hit the ground running, carrying out informal digital sessions at one of our mental health schemes. Although the response was indefinite to start with residents soon found their voice and Sioned supported the residents in the series of sessions, which have proved effective already:
One of the residents explained:
“It’s good to get the help off someone I know, in an environment where I’m comfortable…I didn’t even think the internet was for me, but I’ve realised today that there is something about everything on there – I even found out about the history of Llandudno Pier! To think that I’ve never tried it before, with the help of *tenant*, I opened it all up by myself! I’m looking forward to next time already to see what else I can find.”
The second phase of the Digital Strategy is now ready for implementation, so watch this space!
If you are a North Wales Housing tenant and interested in being a Digital Champion or help with being more digital get in touch with us.
