Our free training service that helps people get online for the first time is proving so successful it's being expanded into new areas with more sessions.

The digital inclusion scheme, run in partnership with Hampshire County Council, brings together teams of volunteer mentors with good experience, knowhow and friendly advice to help social housing customers and those in local communities to get them online and comfortable using the wide range of internet services.

The sessions are run in local libraries across the County with the support of Hampshire County Council.

According to the Office of National statistics around 10% of the population still had no online skills with a further 12% have limited or very basic skills.

VIVID Partnership Manager Cleon Hutton said: “With most public services now requiring some internet knowledge too many people are still being left behind. We’re so grateful to our fantastic digital mentor volunteers for helping us and their local community beat digital exclusion.”

A new scheme will be starting up at Eastleigh library later this year ahead of national Get Online week at the end of October. Eastleigh library already has a waiting list of people wanting to take advantage of the free sessions.

More spaces have had to be added at Basingstoke library to meet demand. Meanwhile we're actively recruiting more volunteer “digital mentors” in Aldershot, Basingstoke, Farnborough, Andover and Eastleigh who can share some time and skills.

We're also recruiting two new full-time team members to our Resident Involvement team to help customers use digital technology and bring communities together by growing its volunteer base offering one to one digital support.