A free training course has recruited enough digital champions to help thousands of Dorset residents access vital digital services.

The initiative, run by Dorset Council, has trained and recruited 950 people who work in frontline roles to be embedded digital champions.

And, on average, each embedded digital champion is helping at least one person a week with their digital skills.

This means potentially around 46,000 Dorset residents are being supported by embedded champions every year.

Dorset Council's portfolio holder for Corporate Development and Transformation, Cllr Jill Haynes, said: "These amazing embedded digital champions are doing tremendous work in helping ensure residents are not being left behind in an increasingly digital world.

"The champions are either able to help people at the first point of call or refer them to other sources of help, like our volunteer digital champions who hold face to face sessions across the county.

"As more and more essential services move online, these embedded digital champions are playing a very important role in helping their customers and clients to get online."

Embedded digital champions have been recruited from places such as GP surgeries, libraries, voluntary organisations, Dorset and BCP Councils and housing associations.

These recruits support people with digital skills like filling out online forms, accessing emails, password management and more.

Tailored training was also given to some organisations so their staff can help customers with their specific online services and apps. This included the Weymouth Patient Participation Group volunteers.

Jim Gammans, from NHS Dorset, said; "The embedded digital champions had a notable impact on improving online access to health services in Weymouth and Portland.

"With the help of the training, we established a team of digital volunteers who have assisted 1000 patients in accessing health services online, including allowing them to order repeat prescriptions and view test results from home.

"These volunteers, have successfully encouraged more people to access services online, reducing the number of telephone calls made to practices, giving people an easier route to speak to their surgeries.