Greenfields celebrates national Get Online Week with volunteer ‘skill swap’ with school

Pupils from Ramsey School, Halstead, have volunteered to take part in Greenfields ‘skill swap’ scheme, which launches on 15 October as part of national Get Online Week (12-18 October)

 Around 20 pupils have volunteered to teach some of Greenfields’ older residents how to get online; in exchange for the residents teaching the pupils a range of skills acquired over the years, which could include cooking, music, gardening – and everything in between!

Val Thompstone, Greenfields’ Digital Inclusion Co-ordinator, is leading Greenfields’ Be Connected campaign, which aims to reduce the number of residents who lack basic online skills to less than 15%.

Val said: “Being online can change someone’s life. Not only can you get discounted products and services, such as clothes and insurance; but you can also keep in touch with friends and family from around the world, and find like-minded people who share your interests – no matter where they live. I want to give all of our residents the opportunity to experience these benefits.”

One resident who has been attending Greenfields’ Be Connected workshops, said: “Since attending the workshops, I have learnt how to email my friends and family, see where my lifelong penfriends live by using Google Maps and, at our next session, I am going to learn how to Skpe my son in Australia. I never thought I would be able to do any of these things – I am so proud and can’t thank Val and Greenfields’ Digi-Pals enough.”

The Ramsey School pupils and Greenfields residents met for the first time on Thursday 15 October at a tea-party at Symonds Court older peoples’ scheme in Halstead, and will begin the skill swap sessions in the next month.

Any other schools interested in finding out more about the Skills Swap Scheme can contact Val Thompstone on 01376 535400 ext. 5678 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.