At Gateshead Carers we offer a wide range of groups and activities which currently take place online via the video conference software Zoom. Here is a quick step by step guide on how to get Zoom and how to use it to join our online sessions.

Step 1 - Sign up & Download

To use Zoom you will need to create a Zoom account, click here to go to the sign up page. Follow the steps on the Zoom website to sign up and create your Zoom account.

You will then want to download Zoom to your device. Go to www.zoom.us/download and download either "Zoom Client for Meetings" if you are on a computer / laptop or one of the "Zoom Mobile Apps" depending on if you are using an Apple or Android device.

Step 2 - Joining a Zoom call

Once you've downloaded Zoom, start up the application and sign in to your Zoom account. This should take you to the "Meet and Chat screen".

Press the "join" button and enter the meeting ID (e.g. 123 4567 8910) and password (e.g. 123456). 

You will then be in a waiting room until the host of the Zoom call lets you in.

Step 3 - Features to use in the middle of a call

Once you're in a call there are a few features you may like to use.

Microphone muting
The first thing you will want to do is unmute your microphone so people can hear you. Do this by pressing on the "unmute" button and select "join with device audio". You can mute your microphone by pressing the mute button.

Video on/off 
You can choose to have your video on or off with the start / stop video button. 

Please note that with all of our groups you are not required to have your video turned on; it is completely up to yourself whether you wish to use it.

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Check out our video below on how to get started with Zoom.