Inspired by attending one of our training sessions, Patriona Briggs, Community Liaison Officer at John Lewis, reached out to us with a proposal to support several local groups in the borough through a community grant.
We started with individual conversations to gain a deeper understanding of the chosen groups' immediate challenges. We then provided a mix of one-to-one customised support and team training sessions, introducing a variety of digital tools designed to better capture and communicate the impact of their work in the community.
For some, basic tech infrastructure challenges ended up being the priority and we were able to be flexible so that they gained the most appropriate support for them.
Recently, we conducted interviews with the participants to learn more about the support they received from Superhighways and to assess the overall impact of the grant.
RBKares
RBKares is a Kingston-based group that supports NHS staff, care homes, refugees, and the homeless by using community sewing and crafting skills.
They create helpful items and run workshops to empower and uplift vulnerable people.
Kate Kenyon from RBKares shared the challenges they faced in establishing a centralised digital space – a key foundation they wanted to get right before moving on to using more digital tools.
When you’re setting up and growing so quickly, it’s really difficult to get everything done properly.
Our support was threefold:
- We resolved their domain hosting issues, enabling RBKares to host their website independently on SiteGround.
- We set up email addresses for the staff members so that communications going forward could be undertaken with organisational rather than personal accounts.
- We assisted in downloading and installing the Microsoft applications, part of their Microsoft 365 accounts, on their devices.
Having Superhighways there, knowing that they can support and help with quick queries, is great.
Their next step is to get further support from Superhighways to learn about getting started on OneDrive, so that all their work can become fully consolidated and backed up.
Kate also shared a message to Patriona:
We’re incredibly grateful for Patriona’s support [...] She’s very supportive of us with so many things, so huge thanks to Patriona.
Kingston Association for the Blind
The Kingston Association for the Blind helps people with sight loss in Kingston-upon-Thames and nearby areas live independently and happily.
They offer outreach, support, and social services to blind and visually impaired individuals.
Odette Battarel (centre) explained that their IT system, initially set up by a volunteer, needed a complete overhaul.
After being introduced to Superhighways by our CEO Sanja at Kingston Voluntary Action, we provided some initial advice and information about our Tech Support Service.
KAB started to include tech support costs in funding bids, as they realised relying on a volunteer who’d helped them in the past wasn’t viable in the long term.
In the meantime, and enabled by the John Lewis funding, we met with KAB to find out more about their immediate tech challenges. We helped tighten up their Microsoft 365 set-up by ensuring the correct security permissions were applied from their computers.
Additionally, Paul assessed their outdated office computers and donated laptops, advising which to keep and which to discard.
Sorrel then advised the team on their digital communications – covering branding and talking through eNewsletter options. A training session for the team showed them how to use a new tool, Email Octopus.
The most significant support came with their application to the National Lottery Community Fund. With our advice, KAB secured the grant and was able to use that money to become a paid member of Superhighways, gaining access to our IT and tech support going forwards.
Without that initial conversation, I wouldn’t have been able to write the grant application in the right way.
Odette found this, “really, really useful”, and thanks Patriona at John Lewis for the grant that allowed them to access all this support.
Their next steps include improving website accessibility, their database, communications, and IT system with further support from Superhighways.
Moving on Together
Moving on Together is a peer-led charity run by ex-clients of the Kingston Wellbeing Service who have overcome addiction and now support others on their recovery journey.
They offer mentorship and understanding to help individuals in the local area achieve their full potential.
Ceris Rayner shared how their organisation faced challenges with an outdated website that had been untouched for years.
Inherited from previous management, the site didn’t accurately reflect their services and was in dire need of an update.
Struggling to find the time and know-how to revamp the site, they felt overwhelmed. When Superhighways Manager Kate approached them with the John Lewis grant offer, they took this opportunity to work closely with her on their website.
We really had to change quite a lot with Kate to actually make it more relevant to what we do provide.
With Kate’s help, they received a clear timetable and practical guidance on using the Voice website platform. Volunteers were able to fill out forms to assess their needs, and the team learned how to use photos, colours, fonts, and sizes for a cohesive look.
Initially hesitant to make changes, they gained the confidence to navigate the site freely – without fear of making mistakes.
It’s given us more confidence, not just with the website, but in tackling stuff in general. It just makes us less likely to back away from trying something than to actually get involved.
Moreover, learning about Canva and securing the free charity version boosted their confidence. Now, they are comfortable and more than happy to create posters and other graphics for their promotional outreach.
Looking ahead, Moving on Together plans to continue leveraging Superhighways’ digital and tech support to further elevate their website and online presence. Ceris expressed gratitude to Superhighways and Patriona:
Without that offer coming through, I’m not sure we would have had the courage to seek it out.
Ariadne's Thread Group
Ariadne's Thread Group is a community-focused organisation that offers cultural, heritage, arts, and crafts activities to adults and children, especially those affected by conflicts or with learning difficulties.
Their free programmes, led by dedicated educators, help develop skills and foster community integration, promoting inclusion and well-being.
Magdalena Glowacka, Director and Founder of Ariadne’s Thread Group, calls the support from Superhighways via the John Lewis grant “lifesaving.”
As a newer organisation, they needed digital training to get started. With help from Kate and Sorrel, they built their Voice website and improved their outreach, learning to create and manage pages confidently.
I have learned enough to be able to manage the basics. I have been able to pick up from there and have done quite a lot in the last three months.
Magdalena shares that the training has been “absolutely invaluable,” with positive feedback on the website’s functionality.
Our website is the only way for us to actually get a first point of contact [with our clients and collaborative groups], so there’s definitely been an impact in terms of getting the reach.
She also highlights the simplicity of the Voice platform, noting that the site was “personalised with minimum effort” and that “they’ve achieved something really quickly,” which has allowed her to focus on other important tasks.
Additionally, Paul provided crucial support by helping the organisation set up their domain. Before they were approached by Superhighways, Magdalena explains that they were struggling with hosting issues, which Paul managed to correct and resolve through a few guided sessions.
Next, Ariadne’s Thread Group plans to add more photos, posts, and articles of past events to their website. They also want to learn about software to improve internal communications and resource sharing among their team.
Magdalena thanks Patriona for the grant and looks forward to more opportunities to connect in person.
Thumbnail photo by Daniel Adesina on Unsplash
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About Digital Foundations
Digital Foundations is a training and advice programme led by small charity digital, data and technology experts Superhighways, backed by specialist organisations Voice Online Communities, Refugee Council and HEAR Equality and Human Rights Network.
Digital Foundations is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund.