Imagine needing help with an important benefits application, but not having reliable access to a computer, an easy way to travel to an advice service or information in a language you are comfortable using.
For one person accessing BLOT’s Mobile Community Hub, these challenges were part of everyday life. Living in temporary accommodation, they faced financial pressure, limited transport options and difficulty using digital services. English was not their first language, making unfamiliar forms and systems even harder to navigate.
They first connected with BLOT through food support, but our team soon identified other ways we could help. Through the Mobile Hub’s digital facilities, and with practical assistance from our Community Digital Champion, they were able to access information and work through benefits forms with translation support.
Being able to read resources in their own language helped them understand the process, explore available support and take practical steps forward.
For us, digital inclusion is about more than providing an internet connection. It is about recognising the barriers that prevent people from using essential services and finding ways to address them together. Sometimes that means access to a device. Sometimes it means translation, explaining an online process or connecting someone with specialist advice.
“It was difficult trying to understand everything and find the help I needed. At BLOT, someone took the time to help me access information in my own language and work through the forms.”
Anonymous
By bringing these facilities into local communities, our Mobile Hub also reduces the need to travel elsewhere for a first conversation. What began as a visit for food became an opportunity to access information and feel more able to manage an important everyday task.
Shared anonymously, with consent.
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Impact Stories
