Learn My Way is a website that can help you develop your digital skills. All you have to do is create an account on their website (https://www.learnmyway.com/). Then you can log in and choose courses that help with basic digital skills. Topics include things like onllne banking, and scams awareness. However, they start as simple as turning a computer on and off.  

Learn My Way is free to join. If you want to register, you will need an email address. You will also need to enter the number of an online centre that you joined through. You will be asked this during the registration process. Catbytes is part of the Online Centres Network, which is managed by The Good Things Foundation.

Our centre number is 8009284

We would be happy for you to use this number when you register

The Vineries is a Lewisham Homes retirement home in Perry Vale. Tenants there live independently with support from an onsite Independent Living Officer. 60 UP are a local Community Interest Company who support elders by providing activities which enhance learning and wellbeing. They have commissioned Catbytes to provide a series of digital learning sessions at the site.  The sessions have been delivered by Rachel Joseph, who previously volunteered as a buddy with us. Now Rachel is working for Catbytes on a contract basis. 

Christina Israel, Managing Director of 60 Up said: "The Catbytes team are not only knowledgeable but also passionate about what they teach. They have a unique ability to break down what might seem complex to others into easy-to-understand language and making learning fun. No question is too small or insignificant for them; they patiently guide you through every step of the way and adjust their teaching to suit your needs.

Collab Training Academy are based in South East London. They help people into training and employment. Catbytes are supporting some of their clients in this journey.

One of our volunteers, John Bailey, is training Bradley in how to program arduinos. This combines basic electronics with coding skills. 

We are also training Devante to fix computers. Today he did his first keyboard replacement

Catbytes has launched the Deptford Huddle. This is a new weekly session consisting of social activities and advice. It will be run initially as part of the Warm Welcomes initiative. It currently includes free energy advice from Altrist Energy It also incorporates our digital drop in. 

The Deptford Huddle is based at 2000 Community Action Centre in Deptford

The Huddle is run by Lana De Meillon, the founder of the Catford Fridge. We are very pleased to have Lana working with us.

Email info@catbytes.community for more information.
We hope to see you there.

Our film festival will explore the experience of older people in Lewisham, particularly looking at of experience with aspects of life they are often assumed to be unfamiliar with, such as digital technology and contemporary culture. We are hoping it will balance the generally youthful presentation of the festival in other sources. The films will not only reflect their experiences. They will also be produced with their input, and therefore will be a creative expression of their different perspective, which nevertheless is a part of the whole that makes Lewisham what it is.

Our film festival will explore the experience of older people in Lewisham, particularly looking at of experience with aspects of life they are often assumed to be unfamiliar with, such as digital technology and contemporary culture. We are hoping it will balance the generally youthful presentation of the festival in other sources. The films will not only reflect their experiences. They will also be produced with their input, and therefore will be a creative expression of their different perspective, which nevertheless is a part of the whole that makes Lewisham what it is.

Sadly, shortly before the festival began, one of our main contributors, Maria Beadle, passed away after a brief and sudden illness. She was a source of joy to visitors to Stanstead Lodge and beyond. We have put together a short film made with her on the theme of "Where I would like to be", and are releasing it early, to mark the first day of the borough of culture (January 28th), and to commemorate her. It can be seen here:

Phoenix Community Housing will be relaunching the digital drop-in they used to run at the Green Man Hub in Bellingham. This club was running since the launch of the hub up until the lockdown. The return of the club will be welcome to many people who are facing increasing pressure to use the internet to get access to essential services. The Green Man hub is also a one stop shop for a range of support and advice. This includes advice on benefits, housing and employment. Some of this is only open to Phoenix tenants. However, the digital drop in is open to everyone. This time round the buddies for the project have been sourced by Catbytes. 

The Green Man Digital Drop in runs every Wednesday from 10am to 12pm

Address:

335 Bromley Rd, BR1 5RU

Phone: 0800 028 5700

As we all know in London, sometimes it is hard to get rid of stuff you don't want (unless you don't care about the environment and aren't bothered about fly tipping). In Lewisham rates of recycling  are  worse than most boroughs, partly owing to contamination of recycling bins.

LoveJunk is a new app that can hook you up with an organisation that will take your stuff from you at an affordable price. One of the great features of the app is that you can specify that you want your items to be reused, rather than just recycled.

Reuse is a theme very close to our hearts at Catbytes. We support the right to repair movement. This is a Europe wide campaign to make sure that electronic and electrical devices are made repairable (fitted with screws rather than fused together), so that you don't have to throw them away when a single component breaks. Our laptop loaning scheme relies on members of the public giving us laptops that are usable, even if they aren't the latest thing. About 30% of the donations have a faulty part, but this isn't a problem if the component is replaceable at a cost of under £20. By giving us a laptop you are helping the environment and supporting individuals or families in need. Lives can be transformed by having a usable device at home. This win-win is a key feature of what is known as the "circular economy".

LoveJunk have also created a very useful page giving information about where to go to get your unwanted stuff reused or recycled in lewisham. They contacted us to ask for some more information about what we do so they could put that on the page. It's great to hear from an organisation that are helping to make the world more sharing and sustainable, especially when they focus on Lewisham!

Catbytes are launching a new digital drop-in at St Peter's Church in Brockley. This will coincide with their already well established social supermarket, which runs on Wednesdays. Volunteers will be present between 12 and 2pm to help visitors to St Peter's with digital queries.

Social supermarkets are an alternative to foodbanks. To qualify to use one you pay a subscription. This makes you a member of the foodbank. They are becoming increasingly common in Lewisham.

You do not have to be a member of the foodbank, or of St Peter's church congregation, to access our digital drop in. Just turn up with your device and your questions. Helen Amy, who is leading the drop ins, will be able to support you.

St Peter's church is on Wickham Rd, SE4 1LT.

Catbytes received the award for Digital Champion at Lewisham Homes Residents Awards Ceremony 2021. The event was held at Catford Mews Cinema on 16th September. Ideal Boilers, who presented the award said:

"Catbytes are amazing. They do so much to support residents with every aspect of going online from loaning laptops to supporting residents to get online. They are a great organisation to have in Lewisham"

Other award winners at the ceremony included Tanya Leighton, who has supported young people in Lewisham with their mental health, and the Honor Oak Tenants' and Residents Association.

Anyone who bought Zoom shares before March must be planning a long vacation when the lockdown finishes - probably on their own yacht. The online conferencing app has become the software of choice for every kind of get-together, from line dancing clubs to public health crisis management conferences. However, many people trying Zoom for the first time may trip up over some of it's finer points.

Not wishing to cover old ground, we thought we would focus on a few features of Zoom which can catch out the first time user, and may even have caused us to stumble (ahem). 

1. Always use the "mute participants upon entry" option

If you are running a club where you are the teacher/leader/presenter, make sure that all other participants are muted by default.