Spark-IT Project

04/09/2026

Spark iT Project 🌟
Promoting digital inclusion and helping people in Somerset access support and build their skills and confidence online.

Discover how we’re working with community partners to help people connect, learn, and thrive in the digital world.

Have a look at our Impact Report here ⬇️

https://www.sparksomerset.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SparkIT_ImpactReport-2026.pdf

Supported by Spark Somerset

03/09/2026

We've teamed up with Somerset Council and Evenbreak to deliver free online training opportunities designed to help local groups and charities make their services more accessible. These 30-minute sessions will explore key themes in accessibility and inclusion, helping organisations better support dis...

02/09/2026

As a sector, we all want to support people in the best way possible, and a big part of that is making sure they have a say in how we go about it.

Through our role in the Welcome to All partnership, we set up and facilitate Lived Experience Advisory Panels - bringing people together to share their experiences, challenge our thinking and help shape better services. This week's photo shows panel members discussing local GP provision with Healthwatch Somerset at the Yeovil Welcome Hub.

And we’re not the only ones making these conversations happen. In fact, VCFSE organisations are arguably some of the best placed to do it. We build trusted relationships, know our communities and create spaces where people feel comfortable being honest about their experiences.

On a , it would be much harder to get the valuable insight that helps community organisations and the statutory sector understand what people really need.

Wells Community Network , what would be missing if your organisation wasn't here on a Wednesday?

26/08/2026

25/08/2026

💻NEWS 📰

A new Digital Cafe is coming to Henstridge ✅

Feeling daunted by digital? Come along and we can work it out together.

Our knowledgeable volunteer Digital Champions are here to help with any questions you have about using your phone or laptop.
There is no such thing as a stupid question 🙂

The new sessions will be running in the Village Hall.
➡️Next session: Wednesday 9th September 2026 10.30 - 12.30

Please tell your friends and family who may not see this post.

Thank you



Our Digital Champions are brought to you with support from Spark Somerset

19/08/2026

❓What would Wednesday look like without our volunteer Digital Champions❓

The Spark iT Project, supported by Spark Somerset coordinates a network of volunteer Digital Champions, offering free support sessions in community spaces across Somerset, to help people who feel overwhelmed or left behind by an increasingly digital world.

For an older person who has been told that the service they need is now online, that support can be the difference between feeling excluded and feeling connected. The stress, inconvenience and isolation of being excluded can be enormous.

For many of us, going online is so routine we barely think about it.
Booking an appointment. Checking a bank account. Applying for a benefit. Finding information. Filling in a form. Keeping in touch with family.

But imagine needing to do those things and feeling frightened of pressing the wrong button or not knowing where to even begin.

On a ? The sessions wouldn't run and people who are already at risk of digital exclusion would be left to navigate an increasingly online world alone.

Thank you to every Digital Champion who shows up. You make a bigger difference than you may ever realise. 🧡



The image shows The Thomas Poole Library in Nether Stowey and one of our volunteers helping someone to use their laptop. Thank you to the library and all our other community hosts.

19/08/2026

❓What would Wednesday look like without our volunteer Digital Champions❓

The Spark iT Project, supported by Spark Somerset coordinates a network of volunteer Digital Champions, offering free support sessions in community spaces across Somerset, to help people who feel overwhelmed or left behind by an increasingly digital world.

For an older person who has been told that the service they need is now online, that support can be the difference between feeling excluded and feeling connected. The stress, inconvenience and isolation of being excluded can be enormous.

For many of us, going online is so routine we barely think about it.
Booking an appointment. Checking a bank account. Applying for a benefit. Finding information. Filling in a form. Keeping in touch with family.

But imagine needing to do those things and feeling frightened of pressing the wrong button or not knowing where to even begin.

On a ? The sessions wouldn't run and people who are already at risk of digital exclusion would be left to navigate an increasingly online world alone.

Thank you to every Digital Champion who shows up. You make a bigger difference than you may ever realise. 🧡



The image shows The Thomas Poole Library in Nether Stowey and one of our volunteers helping someone to use their laptop. Thank you to the library and all our other community hosts.

18/08/2026

Some helpful info here on how to avoid common scams.

Our volunteer Digital Champions can also offer advice.

Here is our full list of locations and times🔽

https://www.sparksomerset.org.uk/spark-it/

Download Age UK's Avoiding scams information guide to find out more about how you can spot the warning signs of a scam.

13/08/2026

📱♻️ Don't let your old phone go to waste!

Did you know that mobile phones contain valuable rare earth minerals and precious metals? When old devices are donated or recycled, these materials can be recovered and reused, helping to reduce waste and protect our planet. 🌍

So, before you throw away or forget about that old phone, consider donating or recycling it responsibly. Every device makes a difference!

♻️📱💚