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Digital Skills Training for older people and disabled adults
AbilityNet and telecommunications company BT Group are working in partnership to help improve the digital skills of older and digitally excluded people across the UK.
Are you a disabled adult, or an older person*, who could benefit from digital skills training? Or do you work for a charity or organisation that supports older or disabled people?
AbilityNet's friendly team of Digital Skills trainers can provide free digital skills training to support disabled adults and people *aged 65+ years in the following geographical areas:
- Aberdeen, Dundee and Perth
- Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Scottish Central Belt
- Newcastle upon Tyne, Durham and Hartlepool
- Birmingham and the West Midlands
- Greater London and London city
- Brighton & Hove and Sussex
- Belfast and surrounding areas (New)
Our disability specialist, Matthew Quarless, is also offering free digital skills training for disabled adults and over 65s, covering areas from Birmingham through to North London.
Free digital skills training to support disabled adults and people *aged 55+ years is available in the following geographical areas:
- Stoke
- Preston
- Cardiff, Swansea and the Brecons area
- Herefordshire
- North Devon
- Portishead, Bridgwater, Exeter and Plymouth areas
Following recent research which shows that nearly half of over 65s struggle to complete digital admin without help, TV broadcasting legend, Johnny Ball (pictured), is encouraging his generation to sign up to attend these free digital skills sessions, including our upcoming webinar How to stay safer online on 28 January 2026.Trainers can run the following sessions, or build something bespoke for your group or for an individual:
- An Introduction to Tech
- An Introduction to the Internet
- Getting to know your Smartphone or Tablet
- Staying Safer Online
- Getting started with Email
- Using Social Media, e.g. Facebook
- Online entertainment, e.g. watching TV online
- How to access Public Services e.g. Gov.UK
- Downloading Apps: Android
- Downloading Apps: Apple
- How to make a video call
- How to manage your health online
- How to bank online
- How to shop online
- Using a computer for documents
We can also provide a Factsheet and Jargon Buster alongside the sessions.
You might also be interested in reading BT's set of digital skills for Seniors downloadable factsheets.
You can choose to have group sessions or one-to-one sessions in a communal space or at home.
Request a training session
You can request a training session by using one of the forms linked below.
Or you can:
- Call our helpline on 0300 180 0028 during UK office hours
- Send an email to digitalskills@abilitynet.org.uk
Apply for a training session
Please ensure you are based in the following areas (or within a 20 mile radius) before you continue: London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, the East Coast of Scotland, Stoke, Preston, Brighton & Hove (and Sussex), Newcastle, Cardiff, Swansea and the Brecons, Belfast, Herefordshire, North Devon, Portishead, Bridgwater, Exeter, Plymouth and surrounding areas.
"The feedback was amazing from all the attendees and everyone learnt some top new tips" - organiser for group who received digital skills training in Birmingham
"Since I started to learn how to use the iPad I have been constantly worried about safety, so I was glad to learn how to avoid scams. I feel a lot safer now, I will remain cautious but will enjoy my day-to-day use of my iPad a little bit more" - attendee of scam awareness session in Wales
"Excellent teaching. A pleasure to learn in this atmosphere." - Learner in Stoke and Preston area
"I would like to thank AbilityNet for these fantastic seminars. I have learned so much over the last 2 weeks, received help with my phone and tablet, and been given reassurance about AI (of which I was fearful)." - learner in Scotland
"The trainer was approachable and very patient with everyone who attended the session. Thank you so much, he brought great value to each session." - learner in Birmingham