After 15 years as a web developer, Damian Griffiths was keen to take a break and “do something in the community.”
He volunteered with the Rushey Green Timebank (now Lewisham Local) teaching digital skills and working on the Wildcat Wilderness, a community green space in Catford.
His skills were quickly in demand. There was no shortage of older people in Lewisham needing help in using computers. Without digital skills, people risk losing access to lots of key services such as banking, shopping and health services as well as simple communications.
in 2014 the experience encouraged him to set up Catbytes. it was a volunteer project supporting older people to develop basic digital skills. Damian started drop-in sessions in the Point in Rushey Green. He called it the Techy Tea club.
Now 10 years on Damian and his volunteers run a host of digital drop-ins across the borough to help people use and understand digital technologies.
The drop-ins teach the skills needed to use devices but in a very social environment. “People can chat … and have tea and coffee. Our buddies, volunteers, will sit with you and teach you what you want to know,” says Damian.
He says Catbytes supported more than 650 people in Lewisham last year – a record. It now runs weekly drop-ins in community centres, church halls and libraries across the borough with around 60 volunteers.
Increasingly the drop-ins are becoming social hubs, says Damian. “People can pick up digital skills but also take part in knitting and crochet groups or learn about jewellery making.”
Damian set up Catbytes as a community interest company in 2016. But it didn’t take off until the lockdown when it started distributing refurbished laptops to help out families and school students who didn’t have computers to work on when they were at home.
Helped by grant funding from Lewisham council Catbytes was then able to employ a full time staff member. It has expanded rapidly since then.
“We are now close to meeting our three year target of having a digital drop-in in every ward. We now have 14 up and running,” says Damian
As well as providing skills training, Catbytes also offers recycled equipment on loan. Catbytes collects donations of computers from the public, fixes them, and distributes them to people and community groups in need.
As for the future, Damian is planning to offer a fixing service where people can bring their own devices and have them repaired. He aims to start it in October at the Crofton Park Library.