Irwell Valley’s UCAN centre in Bolton is supporting the biggest ever campaign devoted to inspiring, encouraging and supporting millions more people in the UK get online by next year’s Olympics in 2012.
The Centre (URBAN CARE AND NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE) is joining a host of national partners including Race Online 2012, BBC, Jobcentre Plus and Post Offices to challenge the 30 million daily internet users in the UK to pass on their skills to those who aren’t yet online in the Go ON Give an Hour campaign.
Local volunteer ‘digital champions’ will be on hand at the Centre in Calvert St between 11.00am and 3.00pm on Tuesday November 1 2011, to demonstrate the benefits of getting on line.
Angela Duffy, Irwell Valley’s UCAN Manager explains:
“The free taster sessions run for an hour and customers will quickly see that internet access can open up a whole new world to them - from money saving advice and employment opportunities to keeping in touch with the family.”
UK Digital Champion Martha Lane Fox said:
“There are still 8.7 million adults in the UK who have never used the internet – yet it’s impossible to imagine life without the web for anyone who uses it regularly”.
“We live in an age when ‘digital’ is a vital life skill: as basic as knowing how to read and write. 90% of new jobs require it: you’re 25% more likely to get work when you have web skills and once in work you’ll earn up to 10% more. It’s simply unacceptable that so many people are still unable to benefit from what the web can offer”.
Angela added:
“The UCAN centre is also a valuable resource for the local community, where people can get advice on writing a C.V. and training and employment opportunities. We hold regular health check surgeries and it’s also a great place for people to socialise and get actively involved in community issues that affect them.”
Angela will be talking about Irwell Valley’s UCAN centre in a live broadcast on Bolton FM 96.5FM ‘This Is Bolton’ with Ross Elliot, Tuesday November 1, 2011 at midday.
Further information:
- Ofcom UK Adults' Media Literacy Report (published April 2011), BBC Encouraging Home Broadband Adoption Research Report, July 2009. A study by Essential Research and Ipsos Mori
- For further information about the low-cost products and the digital champion network visit: www.go-on.co.uk
- A digital champion is someone who supports their family, friends, colleagues or customers to get all the benefits that the internet can bring. They can inspire people to take their first steps online by telling them about a site or service that matches their interests, showing them how to use the web, and helping people to gain internet access. To find out more, and join the digital champion network go to www.go-on.co.uk/giveanhour
- If you’d like to access all the great things the internet can do for you, including staying in touch, renewing car tax online and finding health information, there are lots of friendly people who want to help you get started with computers and the internet. You can call free phone 0800 77 1234 to find a local, low-cost internet course, or why not ask a friend or family member who uses the internet to show you how? Tell them the website www.go-on.co.uk has advice on how they can be your Digital Champion.