Client Story: Jordan Joins the Online World
With the support and encouragement of our trainer, Jordan became one of the many
learners to overcome his digital fears and connect with his community and local services
by learning key digital skills with us in New Hextable.
Disconnected and Discouraged
Jordan, 64, lives just outside New Hextable and has always felt uneasy about using
the internet.
Even though he owned a phone and a laptop, they were old and had been gathering dust
for years. The idea of switching them on felt overwhelming. Technology seemed to be moving
faster than he could keep up with, and instead of feeling curious, it made him feel left behind.
For Jordan, going online felt more of a risk than it was worth.
He said:
“I didn’t have any passwords set up on [my laptop and phone], which sounds like a
nightmare combination for anyone to confront. The internet can be a scary place,
with many horror stories about even competent users being scammed and hacked.“My trust and confidence online was shot before I had begun. I figured it was better not to go
online at all. However, as time moved on, there seemed to be less choice. You have to get
involved or be ostracised in many everyday areas like banking or getting medical help.”
Hope with Digital Skills Support
One afternoon, Jordan headed out to the Next Door Hextable Café in Swanley.
He ordered a drink and a sandwich, and as he sat down, he couldn’t help but overhear a
nearby conversation. Someone was saying how tricky they found the internet,
and the person with them replied, “Well, let’s start with the basics of your browser.”
That caught Jordan’s attention. Maybe he wasn’t the only one who felt lost online.
Jordan kept listening. He watched as someone in a blue t-shirt with a “Compaid” logo sat
beside a woman who looked just as unsure as he felt. She had brought her own laptop but
seemed nervous about using it. The Compaid staff member was calm and kind, guiding her
through things step by step without any pressure.
When the woman left, Jordan felt a pull to go over and say hello. The trainer introduced herself
as Nicole, a digital skills coach with Compaid. She offered him the same digital skills support, and to Jordan’s
surprise, he said yes.
For the first time, he felt ready to give it a go.
Confidence and Connection
Over the next few weeks, Jordan made it a point to meet Nicole at the café every Tuesday.
He brought along his old laptop and phone, and each time, Nicole greeted him with patience
and encouragement. She listened to his worries about the internet and gently reassured him
that with a few simple steps, he could learn to use it safely and confidently.
Together, they worked through the basics: setting up secure passwords, connecting to Wi-Fi,
using a browser, messaging family through apps, and even finding videos on YouTube about
things he enjoyed.
By the end of their sessions, Jordan wasn’t afraid anymore. He felt proud. And to show his
appreciation, he used his own Samsung phone to send Nicole a message of thanks, the first
he’d ever sent on his own:
“I’d like to thank you for helping me learn about new technology, and for giving me more
confidence to try and find my way around my old phone and laptop. Your kind assistance
is very much needed and appreciated. Everyone who joins Compaid sessions are very
lucky to find you.”