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Elderly villagers are taught how to use smartphones

Older people in a rural village are learning how to use their smartphones in sessions run by the council.

The villagers of Gotherington in Gloucestershire are being taught how to use the NHS app, WhatsApp and emails.

Tewkesbury Borough Council's Lauren Woods, who runs the classes, said the village suffered from poor signal but wi-fi could be used instead.

"Mobile phones are going to be a lifeline for people," Ms Woods said.

Two women are sitting at a table and looking at a smartphone. The phone is in a blue case. The woman on the left is elderly, with short white hair. She is wearing an embroidered red jumper. The woman on the right is younger. She is wearing a dark shirt and has clear plastic glasses on, with long dark hair that is tinted pink at the ends.
Lauren Woods, right, runs sessions that cover the NHS app, WhatsApp and emails

She added: "We're looking at things like the NHS app, emergency call buttons, we've looked at scammer awareness as well."

Ms Woods said bad signal in Gotherington often "bars people here from using the NHS app" because it means two factor authentication is not possible.

Two factor authentication is a security measure that requires users to verify their identity in two different ways before they can log in.

"Working in rural areas, we come across a lot of signal issues like this," Ms Woods said.

Vera is an elderly woman, with short white fluffy hair. She is sitting on a chair and looking down at her smartphone in her hands. She is wearing a blue and purple knitted cardigan and black glasses.
Vera Goodhind is 93 but said she's never too old to learn

Vera Goodhind, 93, who takes part in the classes, said: "I was very new to a smartphone. I have found it very difficult to use it correctly.

"I wanted to use emails and WhatsApp. You're never too old to learn."

Jane Stevens has lived in Gotherington for nearly 35 years and is also attending the classes.

"I'm starting from the bottom. I'm quite happy making phone calls now, but there's so much else," she said.

"When you're over 80 it's a lot to take in, it's learning a new skill. So it's just trying to stay patient and remember."

The council now has 10 volunteers working across Gloucestershire to teach people to use their phones.

"We're hoping we can reach more people but ideally I'd like three of me," Ms Woods said.

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