Merseyside Digital Development

Around 12,000 people made the second national Get online day their excuse to get onto the internet and try something new online. Get online day, which is run by UK online centres, took place at the end of October as part of Family Learning Festival and targeted the one in three adults in the country who still don’t use computers and the internet.

There were more than 500 events running at UK online centres up and down England, offering techno-phobe parents, grandparents, and carers – and even aunts and uncles – the chance to find out how getting online could help them and the rest of the family in everyday life.  Whether it was a very first taste of the internet, a first email or a first online shopping trip, families of all shapes and sizes took up the Get online day challenge.

UK online centres have just completed a survey which questioned both participating centres and visitors who came through the doors on the day.  Nearly everyone who went along to an event – 96% – enjoyed the day, with a full 99% determined to keep on using the internet in the future.  At UK online centres, 84% of event-holders said the Get online day campaign had helped them attract new customers, and 97% said they’d be signing up for a Get online day mark III.

Get online day 2008 was backed by a whole host of sponsors – Campaign for Learning, Becta, the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills, Directgov, Ofcom and TalkTalk.  All wanted to see more people take advantage of all the benefits the internet can provide.

Helen Milner, Managing Director of UK online centres, explains:  “The fact that a third of the population still don’t, won’t or can’t use computers and the internet might seem incredible to some, but with technology moving so fast it’s actually easy for anyone to get left behind.  This year’s campaign was all about trying something new online, and I’m delighted that so many people challenged themselves and their families by doing just that.”

One Get online day visitor now enjoying his new computer skills is 85 year-old Robert Booth, who went along to an event at Benchill Community Centre in Greater Manchester.  He was given a computer by his son, but decided he needed a bit of help getting to grips with it all.  Get online day came along at just the right time.

He says:  “I knew that I needed to get the best instructions on how to use a computer properly.  Get online day seemed like the perfect introduction!  I went along and it was all very welcoming.  I met Steve, the tutor, who was very supportive and incredibly patient, and to my surprise I actually found it all very easy.”

Robert was so impressed, he decided to attend regular courses to learn more about how the internet could help him keep in touch with his son, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

“I was beginning to think I was falling behind with modern technology,” he admits.  “Even my four-year-old great-granddaughter Sophie knew more than I did!  Now I’ve worked out how to email, and I’ve also got a Skype unit which is just amazing – you can see the people you’re talking to on your computer screen, wherever they are in the world.  It’s fantastic that I can talk to my family about computers and the internet and understand what they’re talking about instead of just looking at them blankly.  But primarily, it’s keeping my mind lively.  You’re never too old to learn, and I’d encourage everybody to get involved.”

Helen concludes:  “While visitors like Robert were busy proving there’s a first time for everything, this was actually our second Get online day.  The campaign included incredible support from BBC presenters Jeremy Vine, Johnny Ball and Maggie Philbin, who helped spread the Get online day message, and were backed by the hard work of UK online centres going out into their communities and driving footfall to local events.  Marketing the internet to the digitally disengaged isn’t an easy task, but helping families make the most of technology is certainly a worthwhile one.  Getting online really can help people connect with each other, with their communities, with new opportunities and key – and that’s what Get online day was all about.”

[Original news story: http://www.ukonlinecentres.com/corporate/content/view/212/130/lang,en/]

For more information please contact Abi Stevens at astevens@ufi.com