Stockport’s Week of Action: Jobs, digital access, and cost of living support for all

Pictured above: DigiKnow Alliance partners gifting devices to Stockport Foster Carers, Primary Schools and the DigiKnow Device Library.

Stockport Council is stepping up its efforts to support residents with a series of events and initiatives aimed at tackling financial hardship, boosting digital skills, and helping people find employment. From Inclusive Jobs Fairs to low-cost digital device sales, it’s all part of One Stockport Local, our way of delivering help and support to make it easier for our local communities to help themselves, their families, and those they care for in places close to them.

We mark Challenge Poverty Week with an Inclusive Jobs Fair and Money Maximising Roadshow on 15 October at Heaton Norris and continue to provide cost of living advice through the Cost of living Hub and Cost of Living Advice Line 0161 474 2140, Monday to Friday, 9.30 am to 4 pm. This includes advice on benefits and debt, support with food and energy bills, council tax payment assistance and applying for pension credit worth £3,400 per year on average. With changes to winter fuel payments this year, we are urging pensioners to check their eligibility for Pension Credit.

To mark Get Online Week, the DigiKnow partners are offering extra support to help people get online or improve their digital skills, such as using health apps, online shopping, or creating CVs. You'll find details of all the free events on our Events calendar. DigiKnow has also teamed up with the Family Hubs network for a low-cost device sale at Life Leisure Brinnington on 24th October with help to get online and other types of support available.

Councillor Jilly Julian, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, says: “One Stockport Local and its partners are offering a lifeline to some of Stockport’s most vulnerable residents, providing practical support to help them through the current cost of living challenges. From Inclusive Jobs Fairs to low-cost digital device sales and help applying for pension credit, this is all part of our neighbourhood and prevention ambitions which aim to create happy and healthy lives for everyone living in Stockport."

The low-cost devices on sale are donated devices that have been refurbished and relicensed by Community Computers, who are part of Stockport's DigiKnow alliance, helping everyone to get online and improve their digital skills. Community Computers have also given refurbished devices to families at local primary schools, Stockport foster carers and the DigiKnow Device Lending Library run by Starting Point Community Learning Partnership.

Nicola Wallace Dean, COO, Starting Point Community Learning Partnership says: “Devices such as these support people like Steve. Steve was referred to us by a homeless support worker from Stockport Homes. He was a rough sleeper who needed help accessing a mobile device and data to update his universal credit journal and help with appointments. He told us that he has no means of knowing what time it is during the day and has missed several appointments due to this. We supported Steve with a device and data from the Good Things Foundation national databank. We also signposted to partner organisations to support him in his current situation. Donations like this really have the power to change people’s lives.”

Twenty Stockport foster carers are the latest local people to benefit from computers donated to the DigiKnow recycling scheme. One foster carer who received a device said: “Having this device has given me peace of mind to be able to do my online internet safety training so that I am equipped to help keep my child safe online and also given me access to our online fostering training sessions which I was unable to access before I got my device.”

If you have a device that you no longer use, please drop it off at any Stockport library for recycling or reuse by Community Computers. If you or someone you know needs help with digital skills, drop in at your local library, call the DigiKnow Helpline on 07724 217888, or visit our DigiKnow web pages.