Remaining council areas begin this and week – Digital Skills training continues across Northern Ireland

The remaining council areas of our accessible Digital Skills training programme are starting this and week, as delivery continues across Northern Ireland throughout February and March.

Sessions are taking place in local libraries, making training easy to access within local communities. Below are the confirmed dates, times and locations for each council area:

Antrim & Newtownabbey📍 Antrim Library – Learning Centre🕑 2.00–4.00pm📅 24 February | 3 March | 10 March

Ards & North Down📍 Bangor Library – Learning Lab🕙 10.00am–12.00pm📅 24 February | 3 March | 10 March

Lisburn & Castlereagh📍 Lisburn City Library – IT Suite🕙 10.00am–12.00pm📅 25 February | 4 March | 11 March

Derry City & Strabane📍 Derry Central Library🕚 11.00am–1.00pm📅 20 February | 27 February | 6 March

Fermanagh & Omagh📍 Omagh Library🕑 2.00–4.00pm📅 26 February | 5 March | 12 March

Belfast📍 The Grove Library (Shore Road)🕐 1.00–3.00pm📅 25 February | 4 March | 11 March

Accessible Digital Skills training across Northern Ireland

AdaptNI has launched a new accessible Digital Skills training programme for people who are Deaf or have hearing loss. The programme is being delivered in libraries across all council areas in Northern Ireland and is supported by the Department of Finance.

The training consists of three structured sessions, providing a total of six hours of practical digital skills support. Sessions are visual, Deaf-aware and fully accessible, helping participants build confidence using digital technology in everyday life.

Participants will learn how to:

• Use their own smartphone, tablet or device

• Set up accessibility features such as captions, visual alerts and text size

• Communicate using email and messaging apps

• Use the internet safely and recognise online scams

• Access online public services

This programme responds to the ongoing digital exclusion experienced by many people who are Deaf or have hearing loss, particularly as more services move online and rely on phone-based communication.

Laura Murphy-Sloan, Project Lead at AdaptNI, said:

“Digital access is essential for everyday life, yet many Deaf and hearing loss people feel excluded because training is not accessible. This programme focuses on practical, everyday digital skills delivered in a way that works for our community.”

Sessions are delivered in local town libraries throughout February and March. Participants are encouraged to bring the device they already use and would like support with.

For further information, please contact AdaptNI at info@adaptni.co.uk