Skip to main content
N I Direct government services

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
  • Contacts
  • Help
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Family, home and community
  3. Technology and online services
  4. Go ON NI
  5. Events and training
Go ON NI makes getting online easy

Learn to keep in touch online/ improve digital skills

Learn how to get online, keep in touch using social media apps with free internet texting, phoning and video call services. Whether you're new to the internet or wish to improve your basic digital skills these step by step training guides can help make it easier for you.

How to get online

The Digital assist training guide has information to help you get online:

  • it explains what the different computer devices (also known as digital devices) are used for
  • shows how to explore the internet
  • explains the various ways of keeping in touch with friends and family
  • has tips on how to shop on the internet safely
  • explains what online banking is and how to set up your banking on the internet
  • helps you find a job or a new career
  • includes where to go for free computer and internet courses 

e-learning

Whether you are new to computers or need more digital skills, you can find information, hints and tips on the Go On NI Discover the Internet section. It covers topics on how the internet actually works and internet access, how to choose a device, keyboard and mouse basics, online security and fraud, and background information on email and social media.

If you are new to digital, step by step advice of connecting to and using the internet is available from Citizens Online. 

e-reading and Talking Books

Get free eBooks, audiobooks and eMagazines with Libraries NI. You can download all onto your devices and read to your hearts content. Includes over 17,000 books, more than 160 magazines and more than 3,000 eNewspapers.

It is quick and easy. Sign up for a virtual library membership, download the free apps and get reading.

  • Libraries NI 
  • listen to podcasts and audiobooks

RNIB Talking Books service is free with access to over 26,000 titles. The RNIB library also has over 60,000 titles and over 200 newspapers and magazines.

Digi Skills

Get the digital skills and confidence you need for work, life and play. Digi Skills provides digital training and expert learning - giving learners the confidence and skills to succeed.

Online safety

Online Safety helps you to understand the potential risks and dangers associated with keeping you and your family safe online.

Writing for social media

Discover a framework for writing for social media by focusing on purpose, content and audiences to deliver your key messages. 

Manage your team remotely

Discover how to effectively lead and grow as a team while working remotely. Explore effective software packages and leadership tips. For more information and details of other courses available visit the Digi Skills website.

Easy ways to stay in touch

Want to keep in touch with friends and family at home, abroad or when you're on the go?  There are a number of messaging apps that are very popular as they have social networking features that allow you to make free mobile calls and send free text messages.

Apps and messaging platforms like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Apple's FaceTime and messages, and internet calling services like Skype offer an easy and simple way of staying in touch.

Facebook is a free social networking website that allows registered users to create profiles, upload photos and video, and send messages.

WhatsApp Messenger is a free messaging app that uses your phone's internet connection or Wi-Fi to let you message and call friends and family.

Zoom is a video conferencing application used to host meetings and can be downloaded from the relevant App Store on Android and iOS devices - the basic version is free of charge. Zoom allows for one or more participants to join a meeting, you will see a video thumbnail in the bottom-right corner when using it and you can view up to four participants' video at the same time.

Twitter social networking service allows you to post and interact with short messages known as 'tweets'.

Skype is an internet-based communication service that allows you to make voice calls over the internet -  calls to other users with Skype service are free and if your computer has a web cam you'll be able to see the person at the other end (video call) providing they have a webcam.

Learn how to stay in touch online with Facebook, Zoom, Twitter, WhatsApp and Skype:

  • Beginners guide on how to stay in touch online

Help to improve your digital skills 

This training guide is for those who already have basic computer skills as they can use a keyboard, operate a mouse and know how to search the internet. The guide helps you to learn at your own pace and explore various areas that you might want to be taught more about, like:

  • shopping online 
  • ways to keep in touch with friends and family using social media, telephone or video calls over the internet and email
  • how to set up all of the above safely

The training guide, can be found at the link below:

  • The Digital Age Toolkit training guide 

Make the most of your iPad or iPhone

Have you got an iPad or iPhone, but not making the best use of it?  The guide below has a top tips section and explains some of the terminology and device settings that you can change on your own tablet or phone to suit you, such as connecting to Wi-Fi, apps and enabling speak:

  • iPad and iPhone guide for beginners

More training guides

There are lots of digital skills guides. You can download guides and images from other websites to support others or to improve your digital skills. For example:

  • Take your first steps online!
  • Digital Unite technology guides
  • COVID-19: Guides and resources

Top Tips on Tech includes a series of videos and guides to learn about different technologies and how to get the most out of them.  They include how to avoid online phishing, tips for home schooling, family time online and download podcasts and video calling. There are also free webinars.

Skills for Tomorrow has training to learn new skills for all areas of your life. These include:

  • learning to code a cake
  • free webinars
  • mastering basics
  • keeping yourself safe online
  • managing your money
  • accessing public services
  • enhancing your wellbeing

If you want more of a challenge you can try free learning from The Open University. 

There are nearly 1,000 free courses across eight different subject areas including:

  • computing and ICT
  • design and innovation
  • engineering and technology

There are also educational, interactive games, quizzes, videos and podcasts - plus 1,000s of articles written by academic experts and guest contributors.

More useful links

  • Events and training
Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on Twitter (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Events and training

  • Connect, learn, work and be safe from anywhere
  • Go ON NI events
  • Learn to keep in touch online/ improve digital skills
  • Training and resources
  • Working remotely

Translation help

How to translate this page

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?
Report a problem
Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

Messages

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

What is your question about?

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

Related sites

  • gov.uk
  • nibusinessinfo.co.uk

Links to supporting information

  • Accessibility statement
  • Crown copyright
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS