Get Online Week: South Essex Community Hub
Next for #GetOnlineWeek, we’re thrilled to spotlight the fantastic work of the South Essex Community Hub (SECH)!
South Essex Community Hub supports South Essex communities through services including digital inclusion, housing, food and life skills. Focused on collaboration, inclusivity, adaptability, and care, they aim to inspire positive change and strengthen communities through volunteering and partnerships.
This small charity has been making a big impact breaking down digital barriers and supporting the most vulnerable in South Essex. With many services now online, SECH are empowering those often overlooked in the digital shift.
What is your organisation called?
Our organisation is called the South Essex Community Hub.
What does your organisation do?
South Essex Community Hub (SECH) is a small charity that supports the communities of South Essex through our hubs. We currently run two hubs; our Help In Hub is a digital support centre to help those without capacity to access essential online services, and our Youth Hub provides a safe space and opportunities to disadvantaged young people.
How does your work benefit the community?
Our Help In Hub offers drop-in services that deliver digital support. We assist clients experiencing homelessness, those facing financial difficulties, individuals struggling with food and energy bills, and those seeking employment. Additionally, we provide help to those looking to enhance their digital skills.
Sixty percent of our clients reside in Southend areas that rank within the top 10% of the deprivation index. Many of our clients face health challenges, live in poverty, and experience feelings of loneliness. These individuals represent the most vulnerable members of our community and are the ones who require the greatest support.
What do the different members of your team do, and how does their work link together?
Our dedicated volunteers play a crucial role at the Help In Hub, serving as both digital leads and receptionists. Our fantastic reception team is always ready to listen and determine how we can assist individuals in need. Meanwhile, our digital leads are enthusiastic about helping clients navigate online services and are actively working to dismantle the digital barriers faced by the most vulnerable members of our community.
Our exceptional staff works diligently to ensure that our projects operate as seamlessly as possible. They offer their expertise to guarantee that we provide the best possible support to the public.
We all share a deep passion for our work and collaborate to assist others. Our teamwork guarantees that individuals can access face-to-face support whenever necessary, along with the digital assistance required to overcome the digital divide.
How does your work combat digital exclusion?
As technology has been more widely spread, more services have shifted to being exclusively available online. Examples include essential council services, banking, and job searching, all of which can now only be accessed through the internet.
However, last year, 68% of individuals who visited our Help In Hub lacked regular internet access. Our mission is to empower those overlooked in the digital shift, enabling them to access and utilise these vital services. We accomplish this through various means:
- We teach essential digital skills to help people learn to navigate technology.
- We assist individuals with computer access, allowing them to use online services even if they lack skills.
- We provide a safe space for those without equipment to connect to the internet.
SECH’s Help In Hub in person.
Do you have any examples of how your digital support has helped a local resident?
One example is when we helped a lady with her iPad. Recently, she encountered some difficulties with her device and was unsure how to resolve the issues to restore her familiar usage. Her initial confusion stemmed from an update to the Terms & Conditions, which prompted a pop-up asking for her agreement to the changes.
Additionally, the app became frozen on an advertisement requesting her to sign in, preventing her from playing any games of Solitaire. We were able to teach her how to properly use her device so she can play her game!
What demographic of people do you work with?
Most of our clients are older individuals who live in deprived areas of the community and lack the skills to use technology, but SECH works with anyone who walks through our doors.
What are your plans for the future, and how do you plan to expand?
Last year, we experienced a significant 20% growth in the number of individuals we assisted!
This year, we are encountering a comparable increase, which has posed a challenge for us. We have been actively collaborating with other organisations and expanding our network to support as many people as possible. Additionally, we are seeking funding to create more staff positions to help us address the rising demand.
Why are you passionate about your role?
In my position at SECH, I lead the front of our Help In Hub, giving me the wonderful opportunity to engage directly with the public. I am passionate about assisting others, and I take great joy in knowing that my work contributes to enhancing many individuals' well-being.
Many of my clients are facing homelessness and various housing challenges, and I truly appreciate the chance to help them overcome the digital divide, enabling them to access the support they need and deserve.
Can you give any examples of your challenges or successes?
Digital exclusion presents numerous challenges, particularly for individuals who often find themselves in stressful and difficult situations. For instance, we assisted a man experiencing homelessness who faced obstacles in securing housing because of limited internet access and a lack of knowledge about how to search for available options. His vulnerabilities in health also hindered him from receiving essential support from the council. Being digitally excluded left him without a means to access local resources for homelessness, and his lack of knowledge created even more barriers for us to address.
However, we celebrate many successes in our efforts! Our support is vital for him to navigate the system, submit necessary documentation, and gain access to the assistance and accommodation he requires. It’s truly rewarding to know that our work contributes to alleviating poverty and homelessness. By providing digital literacy training and access to technology, we empower individuals to become more self-sufficient and confident in managing their situations.
To find out more about SECH, visit their website at www.sech-uk.com, or contact them at info@sech-uk.com.