Digital inclusion
At OCF, we still believe technology has the power to change individual lives for the better, and to bring communities together.
Digital inclusion figures
About our network
- 2,000 access points.
- 3,000 centres.
- 168 specialist centres made up of:
- 31 Community Capacity Builders/ Community Hubs
- 104 centres in the Specialist Into work network
- 14 centres in the Specialist Carers network
- 50 centres in the Specialist Disability network.
A learning offer that has supported thousands
Improving digital skills has remained a core focus this year, and we’ve supported 125,000 people to get to grips with computers and the internet over the last 12 months.
Between April 2010 and March 2013, we’d set ourselves the target of reaching one million people, and we achieved it nine months early in July 2012. We celebrated by getting some of our one in a million learners together for a special day out at Facebook HQ.
“I’ve realised how small my world was without the internet, but I feel like the door is open now - like the sky is the limit. What I’ve done might be tiny in the grand scheme of things, but for me it’s huge. I felt like a pre-historic monster before - I didn’t feel I would have anything to offer, but now my temporary job has been made permanent, and it’s really all thanks to the skills I’ve gained. I’m trying to pass it on to others now - if I can do it, anyone can!”
Anna Hughes, One in a million learner at Facebook HQ
The Learn my way website and Online Basics course are the main tools the UK online centres network uses to help people find their way online, and become confident internet users. Learner satisfaction is still very high at 99%, and more than two thirds of learners go on to further learning or employment.
The website was renamed Learn my way in September 2012 from it’s previous name - Go ON - as we made way for the expanding presence of Go ON UK, the new charity which continued the work of Race Online 2012. The website has continued to grow as Learn my way, with the UK online centres network using it as their first choice of learning tool for digital skills as well as for help with employability and financial literacy.
Three new specialist networks
Amongst the 16 million or so UK adults who still lack the skills to confidently use computers and the internet, there are some groups who have specialist needs. In order to provide for them, we have set up three specialist networks working with carers, unemployed people and disabled people.
Between them these networks have supported tens of thousands of people to get online and helped to develop training packages to support other centres in working with these target groups.
To support the development of these networks we also held regular specialist events throughout the year to bring them together, giving them the chance to hear from experts, and to meet others who are supporting similar target groups.
Marketing campaigns that reached thousands
We ran three high-profile campaigns in the year ending March 2013, and they each played a significant part in helping us to inspire and rally the centre network, reach out to new and excluded people, and raise the profile of digital inclusion on a local and national level.
Spring Online
The UK online centres network again supported Digital Unite’s annual Spring Online campaign in April 2012, inspiring older people to get to grips with computers and the internet.
As with all campaigns, event-holders received a marketing resource pack to help them promote their events out and about in their communities.
Before the internet, I don’t know how I would have been able to find out half the stuff I have. It’s just so easy. Even if you’re a bit scared of computers, I’d recommend finding a class to help you get started. If you’re anything like me you won’t believe the things you can learn.
Get online week
The sixth national Get online week took place from 15-21 October in 2012, with more than 2,300 events taking place at more than 900 venues across the country, helping 50,000 people to find a bigger life online.
The campaign was supported by partners including the Post Office, TalkTalk, BT, Lloyds TSB and Age UK, with Post Office spokesperson Tanni Grey-Thompson and TalkTalk spokesperson Angela Rippon helping to promote the campaign on national and local radio.
If you don’t use the internet, getting online is one thing you can do that will really change your life. The internet has so many benefits ranging from online shopping, getting good deals through price comparison websites, to accessing government services, organising personal finances, staying in touch, learning, and job seeking. In front of the screen, we can all be equal.
Start something
For six weeks across February and March, UK online centres challenged the nation to leave failed New Year’s Resolutions behind and start something new online instead - and another 50,000 people got involved as a result.
Whether it was getting a new job, getting connected or getting healthy, the idea of the Start something campaign was a second chance to make a lasting change. Hundreds of Start something events took place across the country, and more than 400 UK online centres and 200 Jobcentres took part, building on the key partnership between UK online centres and Jobcentres across the country.
Lancashire woman finds independence - with a little help from technology
In 2008, Sue Wakeley from Cleveleys near Blackpool, was diagnosed with a rare condition which severely reduced her vision. After diagnosis, she found more and more restrictions on her independence and was frustrated that the hopes she’d had of getting online seemed thwarted.
But Sue’s luck changed when she found out about The Den, a local UK online centre where she found support from volunteer Kevin Drury.
Kevin explained how a tablet could help Sue access the internet, even with her sight impairment. She saved up and bought an iPad, and was soon enjoying hobbies she thought were lost to her forever. Sue explains: “I’d always loved reading but it was getting so hard because I needed such a large magnifier. But Kevin showed me how the iPad lets me zoom in and make the characters as big as I need. I couldn’t believe how easy it was!”
After thinking that much of her independence and the hobbies she enjoyed were gone forever, getting to grips with technology has given Sue confidence and a new optimism.
I feel now that whatever life throws at me I’ll be able to overcome it, one step at a time. I know how valuable every minute that I can still see is, so now that I have the opportunity, I just want to learn as much as I can for as long as I can.