A RAGLAN community group have boosted technology confidence among senior Monmouthshire residents through their weekly meet ups.

Raglan Coffee and Computers group meet every Monday from 11am- 1pm at the Raglan Baptist Hall. The groups help improve the confidence in online learning whilst adapting to technology as more services transition online.

An example of how they mix socialising and computers is at one of their meet ups 15 members of the group attended a session at the library to learn about searching family trees and their ancestery which was followed by a lunch at The Red Door Deli.

The participants gained knowledge about how to access the library’s free services whilst chatting about it afterwards.

As time evolves it means a lot of day- to-day services are also moving online including banking, appointments, shopping, and for some people they need extra support on how to navigate their way through this unfamiliar experience.

Not feeling comfortable with technology can result in many gaps in every day life, especially as things are rapidly changing. For some people who have family who live further afield, using video calls or connecting through social media can be a great idea, and close the gap between distance, but when there is uncertainty of how to use these services it can cause difficulties.

According to Age Cymru 75,000 older people in Wales have reported feeling lonely , with one of the reasons linking to technology exclusion. The bridge between social interaction but not feeling comfortable with using technology is something which is actively being improved on more, with the helps of groups like Raglan Coffee Computers group.

The group not only provide an opportunity for people to grow and adapt, but it also gives a perfect chance to socialise, form friendships whilst working together to overcome challenges faced in technology.