A new health and digital hub in Nailsea is already proving popular in its first two weeks of opening.
Number 65 in High Street has been attracting scores of people keen to access extra support for health conditions and brush up on their digital skills.
Healthwatch North Somerset visited Number 65 on the first three days to provide support and encourage people to use the internet to mark Get Online Week.
Vicky Marriott from Healthwatch North Somerset said: “The theme of this year’s national campaign is #try1thing – based on this, we are encouraging visitors to use our online feedback centre to share their health and social care experiences.”
MORE: New digital and health support service to open next week.
Get Online Week is an initiative by the Good Things Foundation to encourage people to use the internet for the first time or try something new.
The campaign ties in with the aim of Number 65, which has been set up to reduce social isolation and improve the health and wellbeing of people in North Somerset by helping people to connect with family and friends online and access extra support for health conditions.
The initiative, which was set up by Nailsea Town Council, has been chosen as a flagship for NHS Digital’s Pathfinder project.
MORE: Council hopes Nailsea Place will reduce pressure on health services.
The aim is to increase people’s digital skills to reduce social isolation and prevent unncessary use of the NHS.
Town council clerk Ian Morrell said: “We are pleased that Number 65 High Street is now open. The first week showed that there is a real demand from people wanting to develop their digital skills, to help them in their day to day life.
“Apart from this we want to develop 65 as a venue for all sorts of activities and are pleased with the interest being shown in it by community-based organisations.”
Number 65 will be open from 9.30am until noon from Monday to Friday and volunteers will be available to help people to get to grips with the technology.
The new scheme will enable people to learn more about using the internet and apps to access support and keep in touch with friends and family.
People will also be able to get advice on a range of issues including care, benefits and long-term health conditions and take part in exercise classes, art therapy and support groups.
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