Digital Inclusion in Liverpool: What’s Being Done for Older Residents?

For many older people, everyday life is becoming increasingly digital. From booking GP appointments and renewing prescriptions to paying bills or talking to loved ones. While this shift can feel daunting, Liverpool and the wider Liverpool City Region (LCR) have developed one of the strongest networks of digital inclusion support in the UK.

This guide explains what’s being done locally to help older residents, where to find friendly, in-person help, and how to get free or low-cost data, devices, and training if you need them. The aim is simple: to make sure everyone can stay connected — confidently, safely, and affordably.

(Information verified as of 1st November 2025.)

The Big Picture: How Liverpool Supports Digital Inclusion

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) coordinates a large regional programme bringing together councils, libraries, community centres, and charities to tackle digital exclusion.

Through its Digital Inclusion Action Plan, the LCR focuses on:

Helping residents get affordable internet access and devices.
Offering free training for those who want to learn.
Ensuring offline services remain available for anyone who chooses not to go online.

Their website also includes an interactive map of local support centres, you can use it to find your nearest place for help, advice, or device access.

Free Data and Devices: Making Internet Access Affordable

For many people, the cost of internet access is one of the biggest barriers. Liverpool offers several schemes to make data and devices more affordable:

The National Databank

The National Databank is a UK-wide project run by the charity Good Things Foundation in partnership with O2, Vodafone, and Three. It’s often described as a “food bank for data”.

If you’re eligible, you can receive free SIM cards and data allowances (usually 20–40GB per month, sometimes for up to 12 months). The scheme is open to people who:

Are over 18,
Struggle to afford mobile data or broadband, and
Have a device that uses a SIM card (a smartphone or tablet).

The Databank is available through dozens of Liverpool community centres, libraries, and charities.

How to Claim Free Data Through the National Databank

If you or a loved one need help staying connected, here’s exactly how to claim your free data step by step:

Step 1: Find a Local Databank Centre

Use one of the following:

Liverpool City Region support map: liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/in-person-support
Good Things Foundation map: goodthingsfoundation.org/find-support/map

Type in your postcode and look for centres labelled “National Databank”. Many Liverpool libraries, Age Concern centres, and community hubs are included.

Step 2: Check Eligibility

When you contact the centre (by phone or in person), staff will ask a few simple questions to confirm eligibility. Usually, you’ll qualify if:

You’re on a low income or receive certain benefits, or
You struggle to afford your current data plan.

There’s no complicated paperwork, and staff are trained to help older people complete the process quickly.

Step 3: Collect Your Free SIM or Data Voucher

If approved, you’ll be given:

A SIM card with free data, calls, and texts; or
A voucher code to top up an existing SIM.
Some centres will also install the SIM for you and show you how to check your data balance.

If you need a compatible phone or tablet, ask whether they’re linked to the National Device Bank, which refurbishes and donates devices to those who need them.

Step 4: Ask for Ongoing Support

Once you’re connected, you can join local digital skills sessions to learn how to make the most of your device, from video calling family to managing online appointments.

Tip: You don’t have to do this alone. Quarry Home Care staff can help clients contact a Databank centre, fill in details, and safely insert the SIM.

Local Organisations Helping Older Residents Get Online

Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton

Offers small-group digital skills workshops for beginners. Sessions cover everything from sending photos to staying safe online. They also signpost to free data and tablet schemes.
Website: ageconcernliverpoolandsefton.org.uk/digital-skills

Liverpool Libraries

Libraries across the city provide free computer access, Wi-Fi, and one-to-one help. Some branches also run “IT Buddy” sessions for older people who want to practise emailing, video calls, or online shopping. Find your local one here.

Include-IT Mersey (Age UK Wirral)

Aimed at residents in the wider Merseyside area, this project provides digital skills training, mentoring, and device support.
Website: ageukwirral.org.uk

Good Things Foundation and Community Hubs

Many community centres in Liverpool are part of the Good Things Foundation network, meaning they can offer:

Access to the National Databank,
Free or low-cost devices via the Device Bank, and
Basic digital training in a friendly environment.

Health and Care: Using Digital Without Losing the Human Touch

Liverpool’s health services increasingly offer digital options such as online GP booking, video consultations, and the NHS App. The city’s digital inclusion programmes make sure that older people can access these services confidently (and that those who prefer offline methods can still use phone or paper alternatives).

At Quarry Home Care, we can:

Help clients download and set up the NHS App,
Show them how to book appointments or order prescriptions, or
Ensure their preferences are respected if they choose to stay offline.

The goal is balance, using technology where it helps, and personal contact where it matters most.

Where to Get Personalised Help in Liverpool

You can contact any of these trusted organisations directly:

Organisation What They Offer Contact Information
Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton Digital skills classes, drop-in support, and advice on free data schemes. 0151 256 2545 • ageconcernliverpoolandsefton.org.uk
Liverpool Libraries Free internet, computer access, printing, and IT buddy sessions. 0151 233 3069 • liverpool.gov.uk/libraries
Good Things Foundation Databank and Device Bank locations, online map to find local help. goodthingsfoundation.org/find-support/map
Include-IT Mersey (Age UK Wirral) One-to-one digital coaching, group sessions, device support. 0151 482 3456 • ageukwirral.org.uk
Liverpool City Region CA Regional inclusion programmes and updates. liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/digital-inclusion

Reassurance: Choice Comes First

Digital inclusion is about making technology available, not mandatory. If you want to use it, help is here, but if you prefer not to, that choice must always be respected. Liverpool’s approach is built on fairness, dignity, and support, ensuring that older residents can access care, communication, and community life in whatever way feels right for them.

Community Partnerships Making a Difference

One of Liverpool’s greatest strengths lies in how local organisations work together. Instead of running separate projects, councils, charities, and care providers have created a joined-up network. This means that when an older resident takes their first step towards getting online, they’re supported at every stage, from receiving a free SIM card to learning how to make a video call safely.

The Role of Community Centres

Neighbourhood centres such as The Florrie, Kirkdale Community Centre, and Vauxhall Neighbourhood Council often host digital drop-ins or one-to-one support sessions. These spaces are familiar, friendly, and non-judgemental, perfect for older people who may feel nervous about asking for help.

Faith and Volunteer Groups

Many local churches, mosques, and community charities now include digital outreach volunteers. They assist older members in joining online services or keeping in touch with distant relatives. This blending of community and technology helps rebuild the social bonds that loneliness can erode.

University and Student Projects

Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Liverpool have both run volunteer programmes pairing students with older adults who want to learn digital basics. These partnerships not only teach useful skills but also create intergenerational connections, something that benefits both sides.

Real-Life Impact: Building Confidence, Reducing Isolation

Technology can sometimes sound abstract, but the results are very real. Here are a few examples of how local initiatives are already helping older people feel more connected and confident.

Example 1: Staying in Touch with Family

A 79-year-old man from Walton received a refurbished tablet through a local Device Bank. After attending a few digital skills sessions at his library, he now uses WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger to talk to his children in Manchester and Spain. He told volunteers, “I didn’t think I’d ever use one of these things. Now I speak to my grandkids every week.”

Example 2: Accessing Health Services with Confidence

A client supported by Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton was shown how to download the NHS App and order repeat prescriptions online. Before this, she relied on her daughter to manage everything for her. “I can do it myself now,” she said. “It’s given me back a bit of independence.”

Example 3: Community Connection Through Faith

An 85-year-old woman from Toxteth, housebound after surgery, was introduced to online church services by her Quarry Home Care worker. Using her tablet, she can now join Sunday worship and chat afterwards with friends she hadn’t seen in months. “It makes the room feel less empty,” she said.

These stories reflect a growing truth in Liverpool: digital inclusion isn’t about technology, it’s about connection, confidence, and dignity.

How Quarry Home Care Supports Digital Inclusion Locally

Quarry Home Care is proud to be part of this city-wide movement. While our first priority is always compassionate, person-centred care, we recognise that helping clients stay connected digitally can have a profound impact on their wellbeing.

Our carers are trained to:

Identify clients who could benefit from digital support.
Assist with practical setup, such as inserting Databank SIMs or showing how to make a video call.
Collaborate with local partners, including Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton and library networks, to refer clients to free workshops or resources.
Champion offline inclusion, ensuring that clients who choose not to use technology are never disadvantaged.

This approach ensures that technology serves people, not the other way around. It also complements Liverpool’s regional ambition to make digital inclusion a basic right, not a privilege.

Key Takeaways

Free data and devices are available locally through the National Databank and Device Bank.
Libraries and community hubs provide patient, in-person help for older adults.
Age Concern Liverpool & Sefton and Age UK Wirral offer friendly digital learning sessions.
Quarry Home Care can guide clients step by step, ensuring comfort, safety, and choice.

Getting connected doesn’t have to be complicated and with the right support, it can make a world of difference.

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