Not everyone is comfortable using the internet and modern technology, which is why we are keen to help residents to improve their digital skills.
A report in 2020 found that 8.5% of Charnwood residents do not have internet access at home and 21% do not have the essential digital skills for everyday life.
On this webpage, you will find useful information and places to go to improve your online skills, access free wi-fi or use devices such laptops for free.
If you are aware of people who may find this information useful but they do not have access to the internet, please pass on the information if possible.
We will be promoting this information to over 5,000 council tenants via the quarterly magazine Your Homes Matter, which is delivered to every council property in the borough.
Free wi-fi in Loughborough
Love Loughborough BID has organised free wi-fi to be available to all visitors to Loughborough town centre and Queen's Park. To access this, go to ‘settings’ on your device, select ‘wi-fi’, click on the ‘Love free wi-fi’ option and then you will be automatically connected.
Find out more about Love Loughborough BID
Places to improve your digital skills
Leicestershire Adult Learning Services
GoLearn! provides adult learning courses in a range of topics, from digital functional skills to CV writing and so much more. Some courses are free to enrol though some do have a fee, and they are either in person or online.
Libraries in Charnwood
Libraries in the Charnwood Borough provide two hours of free access to computers and wi-fi, enabling people, especially those without access to a device, to get online. Many of these libraries also have printing and photocopying services available.
Find your closest library in Charnwood
Some libraries offer more services than others. A round-up of these can be found below:
Barrow Upon Soar Library
As well as access to computers and printing and scanning facilities, there is free support available on Monday afternoons 3pm to 5pm for anyone to attend to get help using devices such as phones, laptops, tablets, etc.
Loughborough Library
At Loughborough Library, you can attend GoLearn! classes, designed for computer learners and takes place in the Learning Suite attached to the library. Also, there is 'Multiply Employment Support' which provide digital help with CVs and creating email addresses, though to access this you must be 19+ and live in Leicestershire. The multiply employment support sessions occur every third Friday of the month.
Loughborough Careers and Enterprise Hub
At Loughborough's Careers and Enterprise Hub you can access laptops and free wi-fi to write a CV, apply for a job or complete any careers or employability related activities.
You can find the Careers and Enterprise Hub at:
14 Market Place
Loughborough
LE11 3EA
Visit the Careers and Enterprise Hub website
John Storer Charnwood
John Storer Charnwood is a fully accessible community centre in Charnwood where you can access free wi-fi in the café if you are a paying customer. The charity offer hot and cold drinks for £1 and lunch for as little as £2.50, as well as a variety of other community based activities.
You can find John Storer Charnwood at
Ward’s End
Loughborough
LE11 3HA
Visit the John Storer Charnwood website
WEA
Adult Learning Within Reach provide a variety of courses to help you to develop your digital skills and these courses take place in person or online. Courses are available at a range of levels so you can improve your ICT knowledge no matter what skills you currently have.
Learn My Way
Learn My Way provides free learning for you to improve your digital skills and if someone you know is not online, you can help them complete one of the foundation skills courses.
Visit the Learn My Way website
AbilityNet
AbilityNet is a charity providing free online resources and hundreds of volunteers who help people with any disability, of any age, to use various types of technology. If someone you know needs help to use their device, you can register them for a face to face meeting with a volunteer who will help to teach them to use the technology. This charity also have ‘how to’ guides on their website, designed to teach you how to make your device more accessible and easier to use.
Digital Boost
Digital Boost provide businesses with 1-2-1 support in digital, finance, marketing and strategy by connecting customers with expert volunteers.
Visit the Digital Boost website
The Skills Toolkit
As part of the National Careers Service, The Skills Toolkit includes a variety of free courses for you to learn new skills or change careers. In particular, the ‘computer essentials’ section includes five courses teaching people how to use a computer, the internet, and then advancing into learning about spreadsheets and word processors and because this specific course begins with the basics, it is great to do it with friends and family who are not online.
Last updated: Tue 10th September, 2024 @ 07:51