A very warm welcome to our first newsletter of 2025. 

"Age is merely the number of years the world has been enjoying you. Keep shining, keep inspiring, and know it's never too late to chase new dreams."

As a not-for-profit club, we are delighted to keep our membership renewals and weekly fee for 2025 unchanged again.  Renewals are underway, £5 for the year, and that includes the session you are attending.  Also, for anyone who has joined/re-joined the club between Oct-Dec 2024, your membership will automatically carry over for 2025.

The mentors are delighted to confirm, we will be open every week throughout 2025, including Easter and Summer and only close for 2 weeks over Christmas and New Year.

As always, if you have a specific issue, you would like assistance with, do drop us a line beforehand so we can arrange for the ideal mentor to be able to assist you. Email: henfieldcomputerclub@gmail.com 

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Our last Presentation Wed 15th Jan - Scam Refresher & AI (Artificial Intelligence)  
Daniel gave us another excellent presentation - the full slides shown below along with a few of the top tips:
General Awareness - staying safe

• 2Factor Authentication - this is when there is an extra layer of security, i.e., Your password and then your finger print or facial recognition (see Chris's presentation below for a refresher).  This is especially important for online banking.
• Be sceptical
• Passwords - use 3 random words, use unique passwords (different ones, not the same or a variation of the same)
• Use a password book or a password manager
• Look out for the padlock and https when using online sites
• Back up your data so all your eggs aren't in one basket i.e., external hard drive so you don't lose your photos or important documents
• General Awareness 2025 Presentation

Safeguarding Humanity - AI

• AI is a digital companion - it can automate processes to save time
• Open AI - chatGPT - use to create Images, poems, letters, code, videos, ask questions
• Don't use any sensitive information as this will be stored onto the AI platform
• Safeguarding Humanity 2025 presentation 

Daniel has also asked us to complete the survey (see the link below) if you didn't get a chance to complete a paper version on Weds. It’s really important as every survey completed, helps them create this approach as the benchmark for other forces to follow. It takes just 30 seconds.  
General awareness (individuals) engagement survey 24/25

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Our next Presentation Wed 19th March - Refresher on the NHS App
Michael will be giving us a presentation on  'Getting the most from the NHS app'
The NHS App provides a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone, tablet or laptop. This app will enable you to access your digital health and care services. Helping you to stay well, get well, and manage your health. You can view test results, order prescriptions and much more. The app can be used to access a plethora of information and data relating to our own personal health.

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Future Presentations will include:

• Top Tips for using iPhone and Android phones with Graham and Chris
• Update on Windows 10/11 what we know so far with Richard and Richard
• HART (Henfield Area Response Team) - demonstration of how to use a defibrillator and CPR training, there are 27 devices in Henfield

If there are any key topics you would like us to cover please let us know.

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How to do CPR - free session with PART
There is an opportunity to attend a CPR session with PART (Partridge Green Area Response Team) on 17 February, 7pm @ St Michael's and All Angels Church, Church Lane , Partridge Green, Horsham RH13 8JW.   Please let us know if you're interested and we'll pass your details on.

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My Future Care - don't forget we are here to assist you 

  We hope you've found the My Future Care handbooks useful, if you'd like any assistance or want to chat through any part of it please feel free to come and see one of the buddies; Sue, Dawn, Rose, Val or Trish. 
 

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Easy way to keep your Passwords up to date - SOLD OUT but more on order
 These can help you keep a note of all your relevant digital log in details and passwords.  If you're not confident with a password manager then a simple way to do this is to use an address book and keep each topic in alphabetical order or a dedicated password notebook.  These will soon be available at £6 if you would like one.  
 

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REMINDERS

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Martin Lewis - Money Saving Expert 
Subscribe to his weekly email to receive top tips and money saving ideas: Latest weekly email: BILLBUSTER special

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All Inclusive Sing along

These sessions are held at Red Oaks on Tuesdays from 1500-1600, term time and are followed by a cuppa, cake and time to chat and make friends! All adults are welcome and we would love you to come and join in with the fun, singing popular songs with the lyrics displayed on a large screen for all to see. Come and help us create an all  inclusive Henfield choir.
 

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Charity Concert on Saturday 8th February 2-4pm
At the Methodist Church in Steyning (opposite Spring wells)

Beware of Scams 
Scams - keeping safe
We'll always share some of the latest examples with you.  If you are ever unsure please do feel free to contact us for some advice.   Here's some of the latest ones to be aware of:  

Are you scam savvy? – Free webinars from the Digital Safety and Fraud Prevention team
Are you concerned about all the different types of fraud and online scams? To help you stay safe, join WSCC for a free, informative webinar on how to recognise and protect yourself from the most common scams.
More than ever before, we have been relying on technology to enable us to work, learn and connect with each other. Inevitably, criminals have exploited and used our increased digital lives to their advantage. This has resulted in a rise in scams including telephone, courier and romance fraud which have all become an increased concern in West Sussex. Not only is there the financial impact on victims but the emotional impact can be even more significant.
To help raise awareness of these different types of scams, this online session will provide you with the knowledge on how to spot them, and what to do if you or your family become a victim of online fraud.
Don’t wait until it’s too late, register now on Eventbrite!
5th February 2025 10-11.30am
22nd April 2025 1-2.30pm

Scam alerts from Which:

• If it’s out of the blue, it’s not for you
• Ask yourself “Is this likely?”
• Do not feel obliged or be HURRIED in to responding
• Go and make a cuppa and ponder or chat to someone about your suspicions
• SLOW DOWN... DO NOT CLICK ON LINKS within a message from an unknown source.  ALWAYS THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK

How to Guides from previous presentations 

Our library of presentations for our members to refer to, view or download.
If you are a member of other organisations and you think they would enjoy any of our talks, it can be arranged for a small fee.
Our Topics so far: 
1.  Help I’ve lost my ………  phone, tablet, iPad, laptop
2.  A simple guide through the age of computing
3.  A guide to online supermarket shopping
4.  Password Managers and Digital Legacy
5.  Guide to Social Media
6.  Scam Awareness
7.  Digital Library Services

8. Timely Tips for Terrible Typists

• TTTT_presentation.pdf
• Enable_dictation_on_mac_and_macbook.pdf
• Dictation_Tips_and_Exercises.pdf
• Can_you_use_dictation_on_a_Kindle_Fire_Tablet.pdf

9. How to access the NHS information:

• Accessing the NHS Information

10. How to stay safe online:

• Video on Cyber Security; how to stay safe online - click here to view
• Cyber Protect Presentation slides - click here to view 
• Fraud Protection toolkit - click here to view
• Little Book of Cyber Scams - click here to view
• Little Book of Phone Scams - click here to view

11. Our Trio of Topics:
1) Are you looking to change your device? Have you considered a refurbished one and Are you getting the most out of your mobile?  Making the most of your free calls vs landline costs, cheaper tariffs now available, how easy it is to change, getting a better signal, what is Sim only? Graham/Richard.
Click here for the Presentation on Mobile Phones 

2) Are you paying over the odds, on utilities?  Broadband, Car Insurance, Breakdown cover, House Insurance – comparison site for quick and easy checking. Are you entitled to more support? We can assist you with online forms and eligibility checking such as applying for a disabled badge, Attendance Allowance, Pension credit. Dawn We've had another successful application for a disabled badge, so do get in touch if you need any assistance.
Click here for the Presentation on Paying over the Odds & Are you entitled to more support
Click here for Martin Lewis' weekly tips email - and to subscribe

3) What is 2factor authentication 
Click here for the Presentation on 2factor Authentication 

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Do you know anyone who would enjoy being a mentor? 
Our mentors are all volunteers who have a passion to be able to help our members resolve a wide range of issues.  We are not a team of computer experts but do have a wealth of experience, knowledge and willingness to find the right solution.    

The club continues to attract new members so we are keen to recruit more MENTORS too. We all have varying degrees of knowledge and experience and most of our help is one-to-one.  If you know anyone who would like to consider helping our community ask them to get in touch: Henfieldcomputerclub@gmail.com or call/text 07983 402008.

Thank you all for your kind support over this last year, we have a wonderful club full of talented and patient mentors, made even more special by our members.  We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Healthy and Happy New Year 

Dawn & Sue (and our wonderful mentors) 
Henfield Computer Club 

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