Stockport celebrates all things digital during Digitober 2023

Stockport Council will celebrate a host of digital projects and activities in the borough throughout October, as the 1st of the month marks the start of Digitober.

Digitober is an annual month-long festival celebrating the work of Greater Manchester’s digital sector. Throughout the month, Stockport Council will be promoting and showcasing some of the digital projects and services benefitting borough residents.

The 16th to 22nd October also marks Get Online Week, a national campaign aimed at addressing digital exclusion in the UK and exploring ways to get those who lack the resources or skills to get online.

Cllr Jilly Julian, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, said:

“Stockport challenges itself to be a radical digital borough. Our digital ambitions for change go way beyond introducing new digital technologies. They are about community, place, inclusion and putting customer needs at the heart of what we do. As a council, we are committed to addressing digital inclusion so all our residents and businesses can make the most of the opportunities of the digital era, ensuring no one gets left behind.”

Among the Stockport projects set to be promoted during Digitober include:

• how Stockport’s DigiKnow partners have now helped over 47,000 Stockport residents get online or improve their digital confidence and skills
• the DigiKnow device lending library that’s provided more than 10,000 device loans and data sim cards to people on low incomes
• the DigiKnow Helpline that has helped over 16,000 Stockport residents with digital skills and confidence
• a digital project to improve hospital discharges to social care and free up hospital beds across Stockport
• the Stockport device recycling scheme that’s had 4,000 donations to date, providing low-cost refurbished computers to the community and reducing the amount of e-waste going to landfill
• Open Plus digital access so you can use most Stockport libraries when its more convenient for you
• how the council use the Big Stockport Picture to share information with partners and communities, and innovate