At a digital inclusion hub in London, a group of older adults is learning skills such as creating an email account, using video calling, learning about online safety, and how to use online government, health and council services. This is a grassroots organisation that offers free digital skills support to the local community. “We’ve seen a big benefit for people,” says Georgina Foster, project coordinator at ClearCommunityWeb, which is running the sessions. “It encourages them to be more independent, helps build their confidence – not just in using their device but feeling good about themselves. So much is moving online … it can be quite isolating when you can’t do something.”
The latest Lloyds Consumer Digital Index found that 6.8 million people in the UK (13% of the population) have ultra-low digital skills. Two-thirds are over the age of 70 and almost three in five (59%) are on low incomes, earning up to £20,000 a year. On top of this skills gap, 1.5 million people don’t have access to a device, such as a smartphone, tablet or laptop. ClearCommunityWeb is one of hundreds of registered Digital Inclusion Hubs working in partnership with Good Things Foundation, the digital inclusion charity, using its initiative Learn My Way, a free online platform offering bite-sized sessions. With support from Vodafone, Learn My Way is helping more than 70,000 people improve their digital literacy and skills every year.
