Evesham and District u3a has partnered with AbilityNet, to help you find free tech support and information, and training on specific digital skills. For additional information, contact Ally, Beacon Administrator, to hear more about this partnership. From AbilityNet's website:

Established in 1998, AbilityNet is a pioneering UK charity transforming the lives of older and disabled people and working with organisations of all types and sizes to build a digital world that is accessible to all

Free tech support

If you are older or disabled, or if you support someone who is, you can call AbilityNet's helpline for independent advice from a technology expert.

Call AbilityNet's friendly team on:

0300 180 0028

You can also call AbilityNet to request free technology support at home from one of their friendly, expert Technology Volunteers based in Worcestershire.

Please note:

• Calls to AbilityNet's helpline 0300 180 0028 cost no more than a national rate call to an 01 or 02 number and count towards any inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls.
• AbilityNet does not receive any money from these calls.
• Calls may not be answered between 9-12 on Thursdays due to staff training.

Click on the AbilityNet leaflet image to enlarge it.

TV star helps AbilityNet share scam awareness tips

Here is just one of AbilityNet's recent activities to make everyone safer online:

Gavin & Stacey actress Melanie Walters is backing AbilityNet and BT Group's free digital skills sessions, which help older people build confidence and stay safer online when using tools like AI.

Photo from AbilityNet, on YouTube.

AbilityNet digital skills training

In addition, Evesham and District u3a are planning with AbilityNet for four training sessions. These will be very restricted to ensure that the u3a members who attend get the most out of this training. Booking information will be announced through the u3a newsletter in June and October.

Run by AbilityNet's digital skills trainer and volunteers, and supported by a couple of u3a members like Ally, these digital skills sessions include:

A u3a outdoor activity group

Additionally, AbilityNet will help the members of one u3a group use some of the digital resources that could help their activities.

Please contact Ally, Beacon Administrator, if you think your Group would like to participate in a free AbilityNet digital skills training session, out and about, relating to your activity? Running in the summer, outdoors, with an AbilityNet trainer and a u3a volunteer like me. This training will be for one group only.

Image: Photo by Oban u3a and David Gordon, courtesy of the Third Age Trust, all rights reserved.

Bromsgrove u3a training experiences

"The session was very enlightening, and Helen [THE TRAINER] was very patient, and I have invested in a new phone…" Elwyn, Bromsgrove u3a.

"The trainers needed to understand that although the u3a members were new to their smartphones, many of them had successful careers, skilled in management or research, using other tech such as office software or working a factory’s 'jig'." Ally, volunteer trainer from Evesham and District u3a

"I do hope these digital training sessions in Bromsgrove continue as I feel Seniors must be shown how to cope with the digital world…" Marian, Bromsgrove u3a.

Image: Ally Edwards, Bromsgrove u3a members at their first AbilityNet training

Could you help?

We want to recruit a couple of u3a volunteers to help with between one and four AbilityNet digital training sessions in 2026 on a range of topics, like: how to use your smartphone or tablet; communication and coordination tech for group leaders; a u3a outdoor activity group; and Christmas shopping online. Ally will be at each to help the two AbilityNet trainers, and it would be great if we had an extra volunteer to help at each. Contact Ally, Beacon Administrator, for more information about volunteering for one of these four sessions, or call our Membership Secretary on O7935 698137, who will pass your enquiry on to Ally.

Worcestershire u3as

AbilityNet's Impact Report shows what they achieved in 2025.

Download a press release about AbilityNet and u3as in Worcestershire [PDF], a Word.doc is also available by emailing Ally, Beacon Administrator.