From Jargon to Joy: How Volunteer Jonathan is Simplifying the Digital World

Finding a meaningful way to use his skills

When Jonathan started volunteering with Power to Connect, he was looking for a way to use his technical skills to do something meaningful in his local community. He discovered the Digital Champion volunteer opportunity through Wandsworth Care Alliance and says the role immediately clicked with his background in engineering.

“The role felt like something I’d be comfortable doing, but also something that genuinely helps people,” he says.

When technology feels completely impossible

For Jonathan, one of the biggest motivations is seeing how overwhelming technology can feel for people who are struggling with it.
“When you’re having trouble with tech, it can feel completely impossible,” he explains. “People often come in feeling like it’s beyond them, even though they’re perfectly capable in other areas.”

That understanding is part of what makes him such a valued Digital Champion. Whether he’s troubleshooting devices, explaining unfamiliar terminology or helping someone navigate a complicated process, Jonathan brings patience, calmness and plenty of problem-solving energy to each session.

“One of my favourite things is helping people and seeing how much of a difference it makes,” he says. “It’s mentally stimulating too – every session is different.”

When simple tasks become unexpected challenges

Sometimes, the problems are much bigger than they first appear. Jonathan remembers one learner who wanted to download a recorded Zoom session from the cloud onto their phone in the right format and then find the file afterwards. What seemed like a straightforward task quickly turned into a surprisingly complicated, 13-step process.

“We had to write everything down carefully step by step,” he says. “But we got there in the end.”

Learning how to communicate differently

A lot of the learners attending sessions are older residents and Jonathan says one of the biggest challenges can simply be communication.

“You might understand the technology, but people don’t always know the jargon,” he explains. “You have to find different ways of explaining things and make sure you’re both on the same page.”

Volunteering has also taught Jonathan plenty himself. Alongside learning more about different devices and operating systems, he says he’s become much more aware of how to tailor support to different people and situations. Unexpectedly, it has also helped him develop a completely different kind of communication skill – knowing how to support learners during classes or courses without becoming distracting, while still making sure they feel supported.

Knowing when to pause is part of the skill

And perhaps the biggest lesson of all?

“Sometimes you have to accept that you can’t solve everything in one session,” he says. “Knowing when to pause and continue next time is important too.”

We’re so grateful to Jonathan for sharing his time, patience and expertise with our community — and for helping local residents feel a little less stuck in our increasingly digital world.

Get Involved Today!

• Volunteer in Wandsworth and support residents to gain vital IT skills.
• Donate laptops, tablets, or phones to reduce e-waste and support learning.
• Donate funds to support digital inclusion projects across Wandsworth.