Lincoln Bishop in the community: Ermine Digital Hub launch success

Earlier this year, Lincoln Bishop University was awarded a sub grant from the City of Lincoln Council to deliver an exciting new Ermine Digital Hub, based at the Ermine Library & Community Hub.

The Ermine Digital Hub, successfully designed and launched in collaboration with the City of Lincoln Council, is an ongoing community-focused initiative, to be delivered between April 2026 and March 2027. 

The new initiative offers a rolling schedule of free workshops delivered by Lincoln Bishop University staff and digital skills specialists. 

The Ermine Library and Community Hub is one of the University’s community focused projects, located just off campus, offering volunteering opportunities within the local community. Sessions are hosted here and are open to all residents – with particular outreach to adults seeking to improve digital literacy, parents supporting children’s learning, and individuals exploring new employment or creative opportunities. 

The programme is designed to build confidence, improve employability, and empower community members to engage more fully with digital tools, platforms, and communication channels. 

Some attendees of the workshops shared their positive experiences. Lyndsey said: “I was really nervous about attending, but everyone was lovely. I have made new friends and really enjoyed learning about social media and AI." 

Rhianna said: “The Digital Hub has helped me gain confidence in using design tools like Canva and making professional social media posts. I really enjoyed learning new skills.”

Jessica Vernon, Programme Leader for MA Education, and Lauren West, Social Purpose Project Co-Ordinator at Lincoln Bishop lead the delivery of the workshops. With topics including beginner computer skills, artificial intelligence and social media, there are a variety of upcoming workshops welcoming resident participation. 

Lauren West said: “The Digital Hub is about bringing people together and giving our community the skills and confidence to celebrate everything that's wonderful about the Ermine. 

“I feel incredibly proud to be involved in the delivery of the Digital Hub. Seeing the friendships, confidence and digital skills that grow through our sessions is incredibly rewarding. Whether someone is creating designs in Canva or exploring the possibilities of AI for the very first time, seeing people leave feeling more confident than when they arrived is fantastic and I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of it.”

There are upcoming workshops for those looking to improve their digital skills, including learning how to use AI and social media. If you are an Ermine resident and would like to find out more about the Ermine Digital Hub, please contact Lauren by emailing lauren.west@lincolnbishop.ac.uk  

You can follow the project on Facebook We Are Ermine | Facebook