Get Digital

[Event Background] [Project Background] [Audience] [Programme] [Event Information] [Application conditions] [Application Form]

Event Background

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 to enable older people living in sheltered housing to benefit from communal facilities to access the internet and online services through access to funding and a bespoke digital literacy training programme.

The programme will be launched in a series of regional events across England in 2010 which will support applications from sheltered housing schemes to participate in the programme.

The event aims to:

• Inform stakeholders 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 future development of the programme
• Provide information on materials which will be developed by the programme.

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Project Background

The project will run from February 2010 until March 2011. 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 (RSLs) 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 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 and volunteers will be encouraged to work with other local organisations to develop ways of building on digital skills and access provided by the programme.

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'.

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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
• Sheltered housing scheme resident associations
• Organisations at local and national levels who are interested in working in partnership to support the programme e.g. schools, youth groups, libraries UK online centres, local authorities Age UK and voluntary and community sector groups.

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Programme

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

10:00 Welcome, introduction and context of the day

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

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

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

11.20 Tea/coffee break

11.30 The application and grants process

11.40 Feedback and questions

11.50 Round table discussion

• Materials: What is needed to support digital inclusion in sheltered housing schemes?
• Online support: What is needed from an online support network?
• Sustainability: Partnerships and community involvement.

12.15 Plenary

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

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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

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Application conditions

Event: Thursday 6 May 2010, Leeds 
Closing Date: Thursday 29 April 2009

Event: Tuesday 11 May 2010, Leicester 
Closing Date: Thursday 29 April 2009

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.

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Application Form

(For people not using the online reservation system above)