There are so many reasons why being online makes life easier. It will help you to look for jobs, pay your rent, manage your benefits, use our online services, and save money by online shopping or using comparison sites to find value deals.
We understand that the online world can be daunting, but we provide support to make it easier:
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Help getting equipment
Laptop Loans
Southway loans out free laptops to tenants, which can be kept for a 6 month period. Internet access is also provided in the form of a MiFi device if they do not already have access - click here to apply.
We can also offer free WiFi dongles to tenants. These come pre-loaded with 2GB of data, then after they run out they just become pay as you go. However, this is not long term data solution, but handy as a stop gap to give tenants free access for a short period.
Help buying a computer
If you are interested in buying a computer, Southway tenants get discount at Computer Recyclers - just contact us!
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1 to 1 help (Digital Champs)
We offer 1:1 help with using your computer in the form of our ‘Digital Champion’ volunteers. If you need a little help, just let us know and we will put you in touch with one of our Digital Champions.
Or, if you are in a position where you are competent with computers and would like to volunteer your time to help others then you can become one of our Digital Champions and help out on computer courses and 1:1 tutoring. Full trianing will be provided and it's great experience for your CV!
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Computer courses
All of our courses are FREE basic computer courses.
Internet Savvy
The course can help you with:- Basic computer skills (switching on the computer, using a mouse, etc.)
- Getting an email address
- Advice on the best and cheapest equipment and internet deals
- Searching online for jobs
- Signing up to the Southway portal (so that you can book repairs and more online)
- Using the internet to save money
At the end of the course Southway will pay half the cost of a laptop, and can advise on the cheapest way to get online.
For information on when the next 'Internet Savvy' course will be delivered, contact Joe Sandwick
on 0161 448 4200 or email j.sandwick@southwayhousing.co.uk. -
Internet Access
Internet access spots in the Southway area
Other Wi-Fi Spots
Cafe's, shops and other public spaces often have free wi-fi. O2 Wi-Fi hotspots are in a lot of locations; to connect to an O2 hotspot just look for O2 Wi-Fi in your Wi-Fi settings and follow the instructions. There are other non- O2 spots also, just look out for available Wi-Fi in your Wi-Fi settings and follow the instructions.
You can also access the internet at our Head Office or any of our Community Centres.
Cheaper broadband options
One of the options open to tenants who are seeking cheaper broadband deals is 'Social Tariffs'. Social tariffs for broadband are discounted deals offered by various broadband providers to support households on low income or in financial hardship. To qualify, tenants need to be receiving one of the following: universal credit, income support, pension credit, income-related job seekers allowance (JSA), housing benefit, personal independence payment, attendance allowance, care leavers support or income-related employment and support allowance (ESA).
- Helpful Guides
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Other digital offers for Southway tenants - free SIM cards and Broadband
Vodafone SIM card project
As part of our commitment to improving access to the digital world in our neighbourhoods, Southway Housing Trust and Vodafone have teamed up to offer SIM cards to selected tenants FREE for six months. The SIM cards will work in a mobile phone, tablet or dongle and provide 20GB of free mobile data (i.e access to the Internet) per month, as well as free calls and texts.
If you are interested in receiving a FREE SIM please let us know by complete the Request Form below. Alternatively, you can let us know by calling 0161 448 4200 and asking for a referral for a free SIM card to be sent to the Digital Inclusion Officers, Joe and Essie.
Broadband project
We will be running a cheap broadband project next year, with a pilot taking place in Burnage initially, followed by a rollout to all the other areas we cover (Didsbury, Withington, Chorlton). More details to follow next year, but essentially we will be offering very cheap broadband (in some instances it could even be free), with no contracts (so pay as you go).