Cambridge Online is a vibrant and forward-looking educational charity and social enterprise based in Cambridge taking on the challenge of digital skills for all. We help people from the Cambridgeshire area to get online by teaching digital skills, and we then provide a range of courses to help people make the most of being online – including searching and applying for jobs, literacy and numeracy skills, shopping online, using Facebook and socialising online, contacting government and health services, leisure and healthy living – in fact, we will try to help you learn anything people want to do online! We specialise in helping disabled and disadvantaged people, but our services are open to all.
We provide training on personal computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. We have a wide range of accessible hardware and software for people to try. With generous support from Cambridge City Council and personal donors, many of our services are provided free of charge or at low cost.
We run public digital skills training at our main centre and at various community centres in & around Cambridge. All new customers can have a free 30 minutes one to one taster session
Looking for Digital Skills Training? Click here to find out when and where you can find us. Or call us on 01223 300407 to find out more about our courses, or to book a session.
Go here to see our Profile Video on Facebook Or see it here on YouTube
See our new Volunteer Opportunities on the Do It website here
Meet a couple of learners and find out more about what we do – Our latest Video
Go here to see our latest video on Facebook Or see it here on YouTube
Akeman Street Outreach In Action – Video
Following on from our Profile Video, Karen Cann has produced a short video showcasing our outreach work at Cambridge City Council’s Akeman Street Community Room.
You can see the Akeman Street Video here on Facebook Or here on YouTube
The web can be liberating for disabled and disadvantaged people – but a lack of training, accessibility and funding means the online world is a step too far for many. Follow this link to see a story featuring us in The Guardian.
A Five Minute Guide to Cambridge Online
Our Mission
Digital Skills for All
Our Services
Digital Skills Training & Information
Accessibility Assessments & Advice
Social Media Training
Community Internet Access Points
Digital Champion training
Summary
Cambridge Online is an established volunteer based educational charity. We provide people with access to computers and the Internet, as well as specialist training and advice. We welcome anybody who will benefit from our service, especially disabled, disadvantaged and older people.
Our Projects
Learning Centre at Hester Adrian – helps anybody to use computers and access the Internet. One to one support, individual learning plans. Specialises in helping disabled and disadvantaged people who may need additional help and encouragement – open to all. Member of Online Centres Network specialist disability network. Part grant funded by Cambridge City Council and Good Things Foundation.
Digital Champion Recruitment Project – Providing training and support for new volunteers to provide one to one support for our learners. We currently have 38 people signed up as mentors and tutors. As a volunteer based organisation, we rely heavily on volunteers, especially as Digital Champions. Part grant funded by Cambridge City Council.
Making Music Using Computers and Tablets – Pilot project exploring how disabled people can make music using computers and tablets. This work has been kindly funded by The Dosoco Foundation with match funding from a personal donor.
Micro Hub – Development of pilot bringing together information, training and advice groups to improve and deliver their digital services in partnership.
Mobile UK Online Centre – Taking computers, tutors and internet tasters to where people are, including community centres, faith groups, supported and sheltered housing in Cambridge and surrounding villages.
Digital Inclusion Clubs – Setting up and running new clubs in Arbury, Abbey, East Chesterton & Kings Hedges.
Meadows Community Centre Tutorials – a service in partnership with Cambridge City Council providing tutorial and drop in sessions twice a week. Fee funded by Cambridge City Council.
Abbeyfield, Girton Get Tech – Monthly tablet and laptop help sessions for residents of this retirement housing complex, in partnership with the YouCan Hub.
Hanover / Princess Court Tutorials – outreach tutorials for City Council tenants and leaseholders. Second round of sessions now completed. Fee funded by Cambridge City Council.
Switch User Group – On Wednesday mornings we run a Switch User Group at Hester Adrian which is open to people with restricted mobility who are able to access computers using switch and touch screen equipment. Five people attend regularly, and they each pay a subsidised fee of £100 per quarter.
Social Media Training – Our experienced tutors provide one to one social media training and advice for £20 per hour (reduced to £10 for not for profit). Each month we also host a Social Media Surgery in partnership with Net2Camb for not-for-profit individuals and organisations.
Digital Health Information Network – Ongoing responsibility for promoting the NHS website to customers. Seed grant funded by Tinder Foundation.
Free computer access – at 8 Cambridge Online community internet access points hosted by other organisations in Cambridge.
You Can Do It Online! – Advice, Training and Support to help people navigate the “digital gateway” – especially job seekers, people on low income, people living with a disability and other disadvantaged people. Grant funded by Cambridge City Council.
Status
Cambridge Online is an incorporated charity supported by fees, grants and donations. It is managed by a voluntary board of trustees.
Numbers
4000 one to one tutorials per year
400 new learners per year
40 volunteer tutors
2 permanent staff + part time session staff
£70,000 annual running costs
Charity number 1097218 (2003)
Charitable Company number 3619629 (1998)
Cambridge Online Trading Limited company number 07788683 (2012)
Funding
We rely on a mix of grants, donations and fees. We get some funding from local and central government, from foundation trusts and from personal donations.