The project’s initial concept was to use the Chinese New Year to host a virtual international event with Belfast’s sister city in China. This we achieved and gave us online resources which we have utilised in the current Belfast City Council funded project. This ‘Digital Multiply’ project gave us more time to plan and consider how technology can be used across our operations to address the digital divide . It allowed us to develop our online facilities to ‘host’ events and ‘produce’ virtual spaces which were designed to be used by older people. 

The spaces were specially designed to replicate in a virtual format the Chinese Resource Centre in Belfast which is the hub of the Chinese Community. 

Many of our older members were key players in the work  to achieve a Centre and they see it as their greatest achievement. This meant that as age, disability and then COVID isolation prevented them from using even visiting the Centre there was a real sense of loss. Using technology we have allowed them to revisit and start to reuse the Centre in a virtual way using  hand held devises. 

The project allowed us to involve older people in a safe way and expose them to technology and its benefits effecting a culture shift in the organisation. 

The 8,000 strong Chinese community is the largest ethnic minority group in Northern Ireland but sadly many older Chinese had to travel to England or Scotland or even return to Hong Kong for care and housing as they got older.

Chinese elders are a very isolated group, with many unable to read or write in their own language or speak very little English, they are a core constituency of CWA and we have a long history of working with Belfast City Council to address their growing and complex needs. 

The Chinese Welfare Association first identified the need for a dedicated scheme the early 1990s. After looking at a number of locations the site of a former scrapyard in the Markets was pinpointed as the suitable site.

In a model of cross community living the local housing association also built sheltered accommodation for 72 members of the local community and 20 six-bedroom houses for large families. They spent £9.2m, with £7.2m provided by the Department of Social Development.

CWA has continued to work with and support the community at Hong Ling and Digital Multiply was our answer to the challenges and concerns they faced over COVID. Isolation was the key problem as they were forced to shield and stay indoors. Our Centre and our Chinese New Year celebrations are at the heart of the Community and our aim was to bring both to the older people at home using new digital solutions. 

Working with LEXXER Solutions and digital experts The Flex Studio we pioneered a virtual solution.