The FreeTech Project returns with "Tea & Tech" online workshops!

Designed in consultation with our communities, particularly those learning with us from home at the very start of the Covid-19 pandemic — and made possible by a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund — Libre Digital is pleased to announce that our FreeTech Project is returning in three weeks, running on Wednesday evenings from September 17th, with the “Tea & Tech” online workshops to provide a fun, friendly, and safe space for adults to collectively learn how to use technology at the intersection of inclusivity, sustainability, security and privacy, from the comfort of their own home, with a cuppa to hand!

Not another computer course

Now we know you don't need another computer course. Those are everywhere. You've been there and done it. There are even free video tutorials all over the web.

But what about the changes that happen in technology, week to week? What about saving time, money, as well as waste? How about being able to resist "Big Tech" or the mobile duopoly of Apple and Google? What about the increasing threats of corporate and state snooping on our internet activity, and the AI hype? What if you'd just like a human being to try and solve a tech problem you're facing one week?

Well, in that case, you can register now by clicking here.

All you need is a device connected to WiFi

The Wednesday workshops run 6:30pm-8:30pm on Zoom and in addition to set topics also include “action learning” where both facilitators and the group as a whole may help solve any tech-related challenges participants might be facing that week. There is no obligation to have cameras and/or microphones on, and everyone chooses their own levels of involvement.

There are three learning levels to choose from: Tea & Tech 1.0, Tea & Tech 2.0, and Tea & Tech 3.0, and they all run in order, one after the other.

You can sign up to join the workshops at any stage at this link.

Tea & Tech 1.0 covers all the basics through its eight workshops, each lasting two hours (with a tea break!)

You can sign up to join any workshop by clicking here.

1.1. Introduction and Video-meets: Mastering Zoom apps and settings; learning about alternatives to Zoom, including free ones. September 17th, 2025 on Zoom

1.2. Understanding Your Device: Understanding computer parts and associated jargon; choosing the right device for your needs. September 24th, 2025 on Zoom

1.3. Maintaining Your Device: Keeping your device clean and up-to-date; installing and uninstalling apps; anti-virus and why you don’t necessarily have to pay for it. October 1st, 2025 on Zoom

1.4. Connections & Cloud: Internet Service Providers (ISPs), your WiFi and mobile data; mobile hotspots and tethering; understanding/saving/organising files in folders; easily sharing files with others via various methods; all about “the cloud,” what it is, and what it’s used for. October 8th, 2025 on Zoom

1.5. The Web: Web browsers; “cookies”; useful websites; saving or “bookmarking” your favourite sites; using a search engine to more effectively get the results you want. October 15th, 2025 on Zoom

1.6. Communications: Social media such as Facebook/Meta and Twitter/X; different methods of messaging; choosing or switching email providers; using the web or a “client” to access your emails. October 22nd, 2025 on Zoom

1.7. Scams: The different types of scams; how to spot a scam. October 29th, 2025 on Zoom

1.8. Quiz: Test your knowledge gained so far in our non-competitive quiz! November 5th, 2025 on Zoom

Tea & Tech 2.0 gets a little more in-depth through its eight workshops, each lasting two hours (with a tea break!)

You can sign up to join any workshop by clicking here.

2.1. Browsing the Web: Why not all web browsers are the same; choosing a web browser to suit you; synchronising your bookmarks; “private browsing”; using “containers” for different sites; customising your web browser with different “add-ons” to make it suitable for your needs. November 12th, 2025 on Zoom

2.2. Searching the Web: Different search engines and how to make them work for you. November 19th, 2025 on Zoom

2.3. Web 1.0: Easily building your own web page, for free, with WordPress or Ghost, adding videos, plus photo editing (including devices, apps, and filters). November 26th, 2025 on Zoom

2.4. Web 2.0: Social media such as Facebook/Meta and Twitter/X, and the rising “Fediverse” alternatives. December 3rd, 2025 on Zoom

2.5. Messaging: Different ways to exchange messages securely and privately. December 10th, 2025 on Zoom

2.6. QR codes: What quick response (QR) codes are and how they can be useful — how to make them, save them, and share them. December 17th, 2025 on Zoom

[Holiday halfway break]

2.7. Privacy, Security, Anonymity: What they are, why they’re different, and why they’re subjective; how to easily use the web to improve these to varying degrees to suit your needs. January 7th, 2026 on Zoom

2.8. Quiz: Using the web to find answers to questions in a non-competitive way! January 14th, 2026 on Zoom

Tea & Tech 3.0 takes your learning to the next level through its eight workshops, each lasting two hours (with a tea break!)

You can sign up to join any workshop by clicking here.

3.1. The Problems (and Some Solutions): The problem with “surveillance capitalism” and what we’ll cover in future workshops. January 21st, 2026 on Zoom

3.2. Hardware: Computer parts; the “Right to Repair”; sustainable laptops and smartphones; Co2 monitors and HEPA filters. January 28th, 2026 on Zoom

3.3. Software: Free and Open Source Software (FOSS): what it is, why it’s useful, and some surprising examples. February 4th, 2026 on Zoom

3.4. Introduction to Linux: The alternative to Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac, and how to choose a version to suit your needs. February 11th, 2026 on Zoom

3.5. Using Linux: Test-driving a Linux operating system in real-time: how does it compare to Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac? February 18th, 2026 on Zoom

3.6. Raspberry Pi: The £30 credit card-sized computer — how it began, what you can do with it. February 25th, 2026 on Zoom

3.7. Communications: Email providers; messengers; the “Fediverse” in-depth. March 4th, 2026 on Zoom

3.8. Quiz: How well did we inform you? Find out with our fun non-competitive quiz where you can search the web to get answers to questions! March 11th, 2026 on Zoom