lifestyle
Coventry Residents Master Digital Skills at Free Neighbourhood Hub Sessions
Residents managing daily tasks turn to council sessions and library services for free help with devices and online skills.
How we reported this
Coventry City Council’s #CovConnects programme now runs free weekly digital skills drop-in sessions at the WATCH Centre in Hillfields, Moat House in Henley Green, Holbrooks Community Care and the Gilbert Richards Centre in Earlsdon. These sessions sit alongside the Digital Access Hub opened by Coventry Citizens Advice at Kirby House on Little Park Street in February 2026.
Drop-in sessions at WATCH Centre and Moat House
People living in Hillfields and Henley Green use the WATCH Centre and Moat House locations for one-to-one help with phones, tablets and online forms. The sessions run on set days each week and require no booking. Local users report bringing their own devices so advisers can walk through settings and safety features in real time.
Holbrooks and Earlsdon options
Residents further north and west head to Holbrooks Community Care or the Gilbert Richards Centre in Earlsdon when they need support closer to home. Both sites appear on the same #CovConnects timetable, giving people a choice of morning or afternoon slots depending on bus routes and other commitments.
Kirby House Digital Access Hub
The new Digital Access Hub at Kirby House, 15 Little Park Street, operates Monday to Friday without appointments. Volunteer and adviser-led sessions focus on everyday tasks such as email, online banking and device setup. The hub was launched with a £36,000 government award to reach 600 residents facing device access barriers.
Coventry libraries in Stoke, Tile Hill, Willenhall and Foleshill also run confirmed free drop-in sessions through Coventry Independent Advice. These library hubs supply free Wi-Fi, device loans and e-resources that residents combine with the council sessions.
Students and staff connected to Coventry University can access the Digital Literacy Centre in room EC1-24 for help with programming, email etiquette and search skills. The centre’s online resources remain available outside drop-in hours.
The Adult Education Team lists additional free ICT courses on the council website, while Digital Unite supplies more than 400 digital guides in standard and EasyRead formats. Residents combine these printed and online materials with the face-to-face sessions at the named locations.
Anyone seeking support can check the current timetable on the council’s adult education page or visit the listed sites directly. The combination of library hubs, university resources and neighbourhood centres gives Coventry residents multiple no-cost routes to improve everyday digital confidence.