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Digital help and learning

If you would like some help getting started or at any point in your digital journey, join us on one of our digital drop-in sessions, or use our online tool Hull and East Yorkshire Progress Online to get recommendations on the best help for you. Or try any of these free online resources to learn about getting and being online with a whole range of digital skills.

Digital Drop-In Sessions

A weekly drop-in for one-to-one basic digital help and support from designated library staff in every East Riding Library. Use our free library computers, or bring in your own tablet or smartphone and use our free unlimited Wi-Fi.

Need help getting online or want to improve your digital skills?

Hull and East Yorkshire Progress Online is quick and simple to use, and provides access to where you can get help and support to get online or improve your digital skills. It identifies the support you need based on a set of eight simple questions, including the nearest location that provides what you are looking for. Our staff members are here to guide you through this simple process to get the support you need.

Learn My Way

Free courses on using a computer, browsing the web, sending an email and finding work online. Easy bite-size learning, with interactive step-by-step lessons in a variety of online tasks to help you grow your confidence and knowledge. Improve your digital skills for free, or sign up to be a champion and help others get online.

AbilityNet

Established in 1998, AbilityNet is a pioneering UK charity transforming the lives of older and disabled people and working with organisations of all types and sizes to build a digital world that is accessible to all.

Age UK Guides

The Age UK Making the Most of the Internet step-by-step instruction guides can help you feel confident and safe online. They cover everything such as popular digital tasks and setting up devices, staying secure, keeping in touch with friends and family and shopping and banking online. Guides are available with beginner, intermediate and advanced information to support you in your journey to confidently using the internet.

Digital Unite Technology Guides

Digital Unite helps organisations train digital champions to help get people online. The website features more than 400 award-winning how-to guides for a range of digital topics. These guides are free to download and use, and can help from computer basics and using Office programmes, to Data Protection and GDPR, smartphones and music and TV streaming.

Future Learn

University created short courses, both free and paid, in a full range of topics. Browse interests and availability to find something to improve your knowledge or take a step further into your career today.

Google Digital Garage

A range of career development and technical courses, from free to paid. Browse available topics and find something that suits you.

The Open University - Open Learn

Interested in a new topic and want to dig deeper? Or maybe you're passionate about a subject? Whether it’s a five minute exploration or a 24-hour expedition into learning that you’re after, you’ll find it on OpenLearn for free. OpenLearn is a free learning platform, delivered by The Open University as part of its Royal Charter commitment to support the wellbeing of the community. You will find over 1,000 free courses, topical and interactive content, videos and online games on OpenLearn.

Staying safe online

FraudWatch

Fraud comes in many different forms, and absolutely anyone can become a victim. On this website you will find information about the different types of fraud, videos that can be used to raise awareness, as well as tips on how to avoid being a victim.

Action Fraud

Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime where you should report fraud if you have been scammed, defrauded or experienced cyber crime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Friends against scams

Friends Against Scams is a National Trading Standards Scams Team initiative which aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams by empowering people to take a stand against scams.

Support for parents and carers to keep children safe online - GOV.UK

The government recognises many parents feel concerned about the activities and content their children are accessing. This guidance outlines resources to help keep children safe from different risks online and where to go to get support and advice.

Have a conversation | Childnet

By maintaining an open dialogue with your child and encouraging them to talk to you about their internet use, parents and carers can help children access the amazing resources the internet has to offer whilst keeping them safe online.

Keeping Children Safe Online | NSPCC

From understanding apps to setting parental controls, we've got information and resources to help you understand online safety and talk about it with children and young people.

Digital art and creative activities

An short introduction video about Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Create stunning AI art with Night Café

Create a wide variety of designs with Canva

Experiment and create music with Patatap

Create drumbeats with Typedrummer

Play hundreds of free games on the Google Arts and Culture website

Library computers

I don't have a computer

Need to get online but don’t have a computer or internet at home? We’re here to help! All our branch libraries have computers that you can use, completely free of charge. You just need to sign in with your library card.

Book a computer online

Under 16s can use computers with parent or carer permission.

I'm not a member of the library

No card? No problem: you can join East Riding Libraries for free or sign in as a guest and read the acceptable use policy every time you visit. Under 16s can use computers and hublets with parent or carer’s permission.

Want to use a tablet instead?

You can also access one of our Hublets – a self-service, loanable tablet that allows you to access eBooks, magazines, movies, menus and more, from the comfort of your local library.

I have my own device I want to learn to use

We also have free public Wi-Fi, so you can bring along your own computers, tablets, and smartphones to use too!

Digital events and activities

We have a variety of digital events and activities that take place in libraries and online. These can range from our regular Digital Drop In sessions to one-off activities during Get Online Week.

Apply for a free SIM card and mobile data

The National Databank from the Good Things Foundation provides free mobile SIM cards to help digitally excluded people get connected. You can get a free Vodafone or O2 SIM card for calling family and friends or going online.

The allowance per SIM is:

  • Vodaphone: 40GB of data and unlimited calls and texts per month.
  • O2: 25GB of data and unlimited calls and texts per month.
  • The limit of support is 24 months. During this time you can only receive one SIM from each provider for a 12 month period. Example: Receive an O2 SIM for 12 months, you can then have a Vodaphone SIM for the next 12 months. You cannot receive another O2 SIM after the first 12 months.

To be eligible you must be:

  • 18+ years old and from a low income household
  • and/or have no access or insufficient access to the internet at home
  • and/or have no or insufficient access to the internet when away from home
  • and/or cannot afford your existing monthly contract or top-up.

If you meet the above eligibility criteria you can apply for a free SIM card which can be collected from any East Riding library. Your phone must be unlocked so that it can be used with any network/SIM card.

When you attend the library to activate your SIM card, you will be asked some questions that will help us to collect and analyse information on beneficiaries so that we can not only understand the context the National Databank operates in, but how we can make it better for those it exists to support. You will have the option to reply ‘Prefer not to say’ to all questions.

Disclaimer: East Riding of Yorkshire Council reserves the right to deny access to the National Databank if you don't meet the essential criteria. If there are any suspected incidents of fraud or misuse, we will report it to Good Things Foundation and withdraw your access.

Apply for a free SIM card and mobile data