East Suffolk Council continue to reconnect older residents
The Grandpad Loan Scheme is helping to tackle social isolation
Last updated 9th Aug 2021
The East Suffolk Grandpad Loan Scheme is aimed at tackling social isolation amongst older residents or those who struggle to use technology.
Devices have been specifically designed around the needs of older adults with large buttons and intuitive operating system make it easy for older people to connect without the complicated features of other tablets.
They also come with unlimited 4G internet, 24/7 personalised support and unlimited minutes, so users can easily make phone calls at no extra costs.
A total of 175 Grandpads are now available and lent out free of charge to older residents across the district who have been identified as being socially isolated.
The scheme was Initially launched in July 2020 and has now been extended for another 12 months thanks to funding from 11 East Suffolk Councillor’s Enabling Communities Budgets, Councillor Steve Whiles’ Suffolk County Council Locality Budget, Government Covid funding, East Suffolk Council’s Covid Community Recovery Fund, the Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG Prevention Fund and the East Suffolk Community Partnership Board.
Cllr Letitia Smith, East Suffolk’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Leisure and Tourism, said:
“Following the success of the initial trial, we’re really pleased to be able to extend the Grandpad scheme to even more residents across East Suffolk. Many older people have little or no experience with technology, but this shouldn’t mean that they are excluded from the many benefits it can offer, such as keeping connected with loved ones, accessing health services and online shopping.”
Once the extended trial period ends, East Suffolk Council will determine its success and decide if residents would benefit from the scheme being rolled out across the district.
Cllr Stephen Burroughes, East Suffolk’s Cabinet Member for Customer Services, ICT and Commercial Partnerships, said:
“As the lead for the Council’s Digital programmes, I am really pleased that we’re now able to offer even more people access to a Grandpad, which opens up a whole new world of opportunities for them. The scheme enables users to access a whole range of things online safe in the knowledge that the device can be trusted and that only trusted contacts can communicate with them.”
To find out more about Grandpads you can email communities@eastsuffolk.gov.uk or call 01502 523119.