Despite being a long way from her native Colorado, once 56-year-old Paula Waggoner had settled into rural North Yorkshire she wanted to give something to the community.

She moved to the county with her husband, Dave, and son, Dennis, two years ago due to Dennis’ work commitments and when an opportunity to volunteer as a digital buddy came up, she jumped at the chance to join the Nidderdale Plus team.

“A digital buddy was not something I had ever thought I would be doing with my limited technical ability,” she said. “But I decided I could use my own experience of using devices to pass on some skills to those that are struggling.

“And it is one of the most rewarding roles I have ever had – people come for a cuppa and a natter armed with their mobile phones and tablets and a ‘to do’ list. Many of them have been given their phones by family and are hesitant to ask them for help – often they have had one explanation and won’t ask for a second! But they can come to our sessions and get what they need – building up their confidence and opening up a new world.”

Her successes have included hooking people up to the NHS app; opening up the world of online shopping; registering meter readings on an app; synching phones to cars; and using google maps as sat nav systems.

“I love that light bulb moment when I see someone realise they have the power to use their devices – they get very excited. The intrinsic pay-off I get from this work is much more rewarding than a pay cheque.”

There are five sessions a week around the Dales. To get involved, contact the digital champion co-ordinator at Nidderdale Plus, Joanne Hayes, at jo@nidderdaleplus.org.uk or 01423 714953.

Since retired Army Major Tony McClelland took on his volunteer IT support role at Selby library 18 months ago, he has made it his own – and local people are reaping the benefits.

After 42 years in the military, Mr McClelland, 67, was looking to keep busy.

“I wanted something that would exercise my brain,” he said. “The library was the ideal place, a good environment, good staff.”

After taking on the IT support role – one that can be found in most of the county’s libraries, where IT buddies help people to use a computer – he realised there was scope to develop it.

“I ascertained very quickly that this is quite an important role. The people coming in wanted different things, like blue badges and bus passes, then it evolved into TV licenses, pensions, insurance, benefits, train tickets, CVs, job applications.

“I started to organise it, set up a diary and an appointments schedule. I work Monday and Wednesday afternoons, you have to have an appointment, but I do five appointments per afternoon. They are all quite different.”

Among the many people he has helped is the widow of a member of the Royal Navy. She was unsure of whether she was entitled to her husband’s pension. Mr McClelland supported her to check the website and helped her to secure the pension. He also helped a couple claim their Premium Bonds winnings. A visit to the website secured their £5,000 winnings.

“This shows the diversity of the role,” he said. “It is extremely satisfying. I absolutely love it.”

When it comes to getting less confident people online, he believes email is the key. Familiarising people with email and opening up the connections that offers is a big achievement, he said.

“Getting people online is a daunting task,” he said. “I think that is where the library steps in to help.”

When it comes to helping residents to stay abreast of digital developments, Stokesley’s Globe Community Library is at the forefront.

The library became community-led in 2017 and founder trustee Peter Chandler, who spent the last 10 years of his working life in IT, found himself the IT specialist.

“I can build my own computers and understand them inside out,” he said.

First up was Code Club, which attracted about 20 children aged nine to 11 and taught the basics of coding.

Later, older children asked for something for them. The result was a major project to build a 3D printer. This required funding, and £500 was secured from an organisation called Meet and Code. Sixteen young people worked on the printer over two years, with their efforts winning a further £1,500 in funding through Meet and Code competitions.

Peter Chandler, 73, also ran a robotics club for young people last year, and Code Club continues, but he has noticed lower take-up from young people as their coding knowledge is fed elsewhere.

However, he also runs an iPad for seniors group called Silver Surfers and demand there remains high, with a dozen people with an average age of around 70 attending.

“This group caters for total beginners, from how to switch it on to how to operate it and what you can do with it,” he said. “A couple of women who come along also belong to a University of the Third Age (U3A) iPad group and now help other people with the iPad.”

Peter Chandler is also the library’s IT buddy, on hand to support residents in learning how to use their phones, tablets and computers.

He is happy to share his experience with anyone planning similar groups. Email Trustees.theglobe@gmail.com

Demand for help to get online is keeping Peter Dickinson and the other volunteer IT buddies at Scarborough library busy.

IT buddies, who can be found at most North Yorkshire libraries, support people in learning how to use a computer.

Peter, 67, is one of half a dozen at Scarborough library. He began volunteering there seven years ago and quickly fell into the IT buddy role, where his background in banking software helped.

“I do a full day on Wednesday,” he said. “Last week, I had 15 appointments back-to-back. It is a pleasure, I enjoy helping people. It is nice when someone goes out with a smile.”

He also spends a day at Newby and Scalby library every three weeks and has a similar role with mental health charity Scarborough Survivors.

Of the library work, he said: “A lot of it is one-off things, like blue badges and bus passes and in the last few weeks we have had hundreds of people asking for help with Household Support Fund vouchers.

“We also get more complicated things. For instance, I’m helping a couple who want to go to Thailand  to sort out their visa.”

A lot of people who come in for help have been given tablets by their children or grandchildren and don’t know how to use them.

“The first thing, if you are unsure, is to come in and see somebody at the library,” he said. “I have had people in their 90s who are really competent now. I have a 91-year-old who came in six years ago scared to death of using a computer. She is now doing a degree in creative writing online.”

Even small benefits of getting online are good for mental health, he said, whether that’s putting people in touch to play games together or showing them how to talk to relatives.