Digital Help and Scam Awareness in Edgware

This summer, Steve Newton — a jLiving Board Member and retired IT consultant — has been sharing his digital expertise with tenants at Gordon Court.

Steve generously volunteered his time to run two technology-focused sessions at the Edgware Scheme, which he calls Tech Assist and Tech Talk — both designed to empower tenants with practical ski

lls and knowledge and help them stay confident and safe in the digital world.

In the Tech Assist sessions, Steve offers one-to-one support to tenants, helping them with a range of digital issues. With the help of Housing Manager Sally, who coordinated the bookings, tenants were able to pre- book a 15-minute slot for assistance with any device — from smartphones and tablets to laptops.

Steve ran the first session in July, assisting eight tenants. However, due to time constraints and the number of people needing support, not everyone could be seen, so he kindly returned in August to continue where he left off.

“At the second session, I was pleased that I had the opportunity to support the remaining tenants with their tech issues,” Steve explained.

From setting up emails to troubleshooting app problems, Steve worked with each tenant to address their individual needs.

Steve also hosted a talk titled ‘Won’t Get Scammed Again’, focusing on staying safe online and spotting scams before they cause harm.

“The talk covered common types of fraud, how scammers typically operate, and, most importantly, how to protect yourself using simple but effective precautions,” Steve added.

The session was interactive, with plenty of questions and discussion from the attendees, making it both engaging and informative. “The goal was to empower tenants with practical knowledge so they can confidently spot suspicious activity and avoid falling victim to scams,” Steve added.

“The talk was well received, with active participation and questions that led to valuable discussion among attendees.”