Get Digital

[Background] [Audience] [Programme] [Event Information] [Application Conditions] [Application Form]

NIACE and Digital Unite are pleased to announce that they will be working together to deliver a digital inclusion project for residents of sheltered housing , following the commitment in Building a Society for All Ages (DWP, 2009).

The programme will be launched in a series of regional events across England in 2010. This first event is targeted specifically at interested parties in London and the South East. Details about subsequent regional events in South West and West Midlands, Eastern and East Midlands, and Northern regions will be available shortly.

The events aim to:

• Informstakeholders of the Get Digital programme
• Inform stakeholders how they can benefit from the programme
• Provide guidance on how to apply to participate in the programme
• Provide an opportunity to network and learn from other relevant regional schemes and programmes
• Discuss the development of the programme
• Provide information on programme resources

Background

The project will run from February 2010 until March 2011 and is funded by Communities and Local Government. By then, the project will have engaged with up to 500 sheltered schemes either through a local delivery scheme, or through the benefits of online resources and support.

The Get Digital programme will be delivered by NIACE and Digital Unite, working together to enable older people living in sheltered housing to benefit from communal facilities to access the internet and online services, and a bespoke digital literacy training programme.

The programme will offer Registered Social Landlords small grants to help set up appropriate facilities and provide the support needed to ensure residents can make full use of them. The programme will also develop a wide range of support materials for Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) to enable them to set up and sustain facilities for  residents. This will include advice and guidance on appropriate equipment and connectivity, free training and resources for residents and extensive advice and guidance on
working with local organisations to sustain digital literacy activities.

Residents, staff, volunteers and others will be encouraged to work with other local organisations, particularly schools, UK online centres and other voluntary and community sector groups, to develop ways of building on new skills and access to new technologies.

By the end of March 2011, Get Digital will:

• Work with 195 sheltered housing schemes nationwide, including 81 schemes in rural areas providing around 7,800 residents internet access
• Extend internet access to a further 300 schemes and up to 20,000 residents in total
• Develop communal IT facilities in sheltered housing schemes making technology easily accessible to the 600,000 people who live in sheltered housing as well as others in the local community
• Provide resources including expert Scheme training and Support to boost residents’ computer literacy
• Promote and support ‘Get Digital partnerships' between sheltered housing and local schools and other groups of young people for ‘intergenerational learning activities'

Audience

These regional events will be of interest to:

• Registered Social Landlords across England
• Managers of existing digital inclusion schemes for residents of sheltered housing schemes
• Organisations at local and national levels which could support the programme

Programme

09:30 Arrival and registration
(tea/coffee available)

10:00 Welcome and introduction to the day

10.10 What are the benefits of digital inclusion for residents of sheltered housing schemes?

10.30 The elements of the Get Digital Programme – an opportunity to find out more and to make comments about:

• Grants to schemes
• The support cycle
• The Website
• Toolkits and resources
• Community support and participation
• Support networks.

11.00 The application and grants process

11.10 Feedback and questions

11.45 Round table discussion

• What other resources should be developed to support the programme?
• What would you want from an online support network?

12.15 Plenary

13:00 Close and networking
(tea/coffee available)

Event Information

Arrival and registration is at 9:30am for a 10:00am start. The event will end at 1:00pm

Attendance is free to delegates and is restricted to the target audience (includes tea and coffee)

Places will be allocated in order of receipt of completed application forms (one form per person)

Participants should be prepared to take their own notes as there will not be handouts for all sessions

If you have not received an e-mail confirming your attendance and joining instructions 4 working days before the event please contact:

Gurjit Kaur
Tel: 0116 204 2833
Fax: 0116 254 8368
Minicom: 0116 255 6049
E-mail: gurjit.kaur@niace.org.uk

Application Conditions

Event: Thursday 25 February 2010

Substitutions are to be advised 5 working days prior to the event

A 10 working days notice period is required for provision of electronic note-takers, sign language interpreters and transcription to Braille

Completed and signed application forms must be faxed or posted to NIACE by the closing date. Reservations by telephone cannot be accepted

Application forms are individually acknowledged by e-mail. Joining instructions, including map and directions, will be e-mailed out one week before the event

Application Form