The Access Foundation has awarded a £43,750 grant to Home Instead Charities to open 6 new companionship cafes to help bridge the digital divide for older adults in the UK.

The grant will be used for equipment including brand new tablets and internet access.

Home Instead Charities was founded by Home Instead, the UK’s leading provider of home care. The charity’s mission is to end loneliness for ageing adults and to bring happiness and joy into the lives of the ageing population.

The cafes will be located in York, Southampton, Lewes, Dudley, Doncaster and East Herts, with more locations planned for 2023. Run by volunteers, members of the public will be offered good company, a hot drink and free help and support with using the internet and online services available to them.

To ensure this is an enjoyable experience for all, at many of the cafes, the technology will be used alongside traditional activities, such as recording and sharing choir performances via email, using the internet to play games and sharing pictures of craft projects on social media.

The cafes will make the online world more accessible and inclusive for the older generation through technology. Many older adults are unable to afford luxuries such as smart phones and tablets and therefore miss out on being able to do simple tasks such as book GP appointments, online shopping, banking or connecting with friends and family.

These cafes will provide a fantastic source of advice and support and also an opportunity for those seeking companionship to meet up in a warm, friendly environment.

The cafes will provide a welcoming place for older people to learn how to use technology enabling them to become more connected and self-sufficient in their later life.

According to Age UK; 42% of over 75’s don’t use the internet because of lack of knowledge and/or mistrust and a lack of access to equipment.
Penny Hamer, Executive Director of Home Instead Charities said:

“We are so grateful to the Access Foundation, as this grant will make a huge difference in local communities. These cafes will provide a fantastic source of advice and support and also an opportunity for those seeking companionship to meet up in a warm, friendly environment. We can’t wait to promote these cafes and we hope to increase the number of volunteers locally.”