A CLUB designed to help older people get online has received praise after a visit from Communities Minister Stephen Williams.

The WithIt club, held every Monday between 10am and noon in the Royal Wootton Bassett Library in Boroughfields, hosted a visit from the minister on Monday and took the opportunity to show off their skills.

The group was established in April by Rita Patel, manager of the Royal Wootton Bassett Post Office, to help older people in the community get to grips with modern technology and tackle isolation issues.

She applied for community funding from the Post Office to buy nine tablets with the aim of encouraging older people in the town to engage with digital technology.

Communities Minister Stephen Williams said: “The aim of the fund is to stimulate ideas for new ways that Post Offices can support their communities. It’s great to see the tremendous efforts that Rita has made in getting local people together, giving them the confidence to learn new skills.”

The initiative became a real community effort when the start-up sessions moved into the library to use the free WiFi connection.

Since the project’s launch, more than 50 people have signed up for the free sessions, where they learn about using tablets, how to send emails, use Skype, take photos and browse the web as well as download and read ebooks.

Now there are four regular volunteers who ‘staff’ the sessions and offer one-to-one support.

Rita said: “WithIt seems to be taking its own course.

“Each week seems to just flow. The feedback we get is so positive and encouraging.

“It just goes to show the learners really appreciate it and are very grateful to the volunteers, which is encouraging.”

Then Wiltshire Council area board manager Penny Bell, Wiltshire councillor Allison Bucknell and volunteers from Wiltshire Online helped establish the project, which started with a grant of £4,300 and has been running in the library since the beginning of April.

Jonathan Seed, cabinet member for libraries, said: “This is a unique initiative and one that should be applauded. Today’s technology is not the preserve of the young and introducing senior citizens to the benefits of the internet can help to keep them involved in the community and avoid isolation and loneliness.”