Q's story: Digital dignity

Q volunteers at the Spark iT Digital Café at the Waffle Hub in Burnham-on-Sea, bringing his professional expertise from his previous role as an employee of EE. Since April 2024, he's supported 748 people with everything from account recovery to price comparison, but for Q, it's about far more than technical fixes. 

"When I first came to Spark Somerset, I'd been out of work for three years. I was experiencing fear of failure," Q remembers. "Spark just asked me to give them an hour, and it built my confidence. I got out of the house, which I hadn’t done in three weeks." 

Now Q runs the café his way, understanding that digital support is about catering to individual needs. "One of the most important skills I have is listening. Sometimes I'm the only person they might speak to. Lots of my regulars come back to tell me how something has worked. I call it digital dignity, but it's really more about dignity." 

Through a partnership with Vodafone, Q provides SIM cards to people struggling with expensive pay-as-you-go contracts. He recommends free services like WhatsApp for communication and helps people find safe Wi-Fi access points, crucial for people without home broadband. But for him, volunteering isn't just about helping others; it's been life changing for his own mental health and sense of belonging.

"Every day I come here, I feel appreciated. My clients appreciate me. I enjoy solving problems and I do a jig when I get things to work. Volunteering has given me confidence and that helped my mental health. I really feel part of my community." 

If you would like to volunteer as a Digital Champion like Q, visit the link below.