Axiologik Bridges the Digital Divide for Leeds Seniors with Digital Skills, Partnering with Leeds Older People's Forum and Westward Care

Axiologik is proud to announce the successful completion of a digital inclusion initiative in partnership with Leeds Older People's Forum and Westward Care's Southlands Retirement Apartments. This collaboration has significantly improved residents' digital skills and confidence, enabling them to lead more independent lives.

The initiative saw two Axiologik volunteers, Karen Lewis, Client Engagement Principal, and Cat Hardy, Talent Partner, dedicate their time and expertise to provide personalised digital training to residents of Southlands Retirement Apartments, a collection of self-contained apartments in Roundhay, Leeds. The programme focused on empowering senior citizens to utilise their digital devices effectively, fostering greater independence and connection with the wider community.

"Having the Axiologik volunteers coming in has been great, they bring a different perspective," shared Mick, a residents' representative at Southlands. The volunteers were praised for their patience, encouragement, and the personal interest they showed in each resident's learning journey.

Sam Haggart, Digital Inclusion Officer at Leeds Older People's Forum, highlighted the impact of the volunteers, stating, "If I was teaching on my own, the maximum I could probably teach is about three people. Having more people to support means that more people could access the sessions." He further emphasised the value of one-on-one support, allowing for personalised learning and addressing specific needs.

The program successfully tackled various digital challenges faced by residents, including basic digital skills and more complex issues such as managing voice notes and utilising online healthcare resources. One resident, Patrick, received personalised support with PATCHS, the digital tool used to contact his local GP practice, resolving his frustration and improving his access to healthcare.

"Axiologik is committed to supporting charities that align with our values of digital inclusion and community empowerment," said Co-founder and Director, Rob Stanger at Axiologik. "We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive in the digital age, and we are proud to have played a role in bridging the digital divide for the residents of Southlands."

Axiologik is dedicated to corporate social responsibility and positively impacting our local community. We will build on this successful initiative, continuing our partnership with Leeds Older People's Forum to expand digital inclusion across the region. Our internal CSR Committee spearheads this work, empowering employees to drive our initiatives. They identify local needs, organise impactful projects, and inspire team participation, reflecting our core values of authenticity, trust, and expertise.

“Working on this initiative exemplifies Axiologik's commitment to CSR. As members of the CSR committee, Cat and I were eager to contribute, witnessing firsthand the tangible difference we could make for Southlands residents. Axiologik's commitment to social support is deeply embedded in our organisational DNA – so much so, that our contracts include up to four days a year dedicated to supporting initiatives we personally or professionally align with. This project was a great opportunity to leverage that contractual benefit and make a real difference in our community” Comented, KarenLewis, Client Engagement Principal at Axiologik.