Ahead of the introduction of Universal Credit, social housing providers are urged to help residents get online during one of the biggest digital inclusion campaigns of the year, Spring Online.
Seven million people in the UK have never used the internet – six million of them aged over 55. Millions more don’t have basic online skills such as sending emails or searching the web. 80% of all benefit applications are expected to be online after 2017 and 90% of all jobs requiring IT skills by 2015*, so supporting residents to engage with digital technology is an immediate challenge for housing providers.
Digital Unite, one of the UK’s main providers of digital skills learning, warns that many tenants could struggle to cope with the move to a digital service.
It wants housing providers to organise free digital taster events for their tenants as part of its annual Spring Online campaign in association with Carphone Warehouse from 31 March – 4 April. It’s free and easy to take part. Digital Unite supports every event holder with downloadable posters, leaflets and certificates, activity ideas and advice – and there is chance to win some great prizes in the Spring Online Best Event Awards.
Last year an estimated 20,000 people were given their first taste of computers, the internet and other digital technology as part of the award-winning campaign.
Hundreds of housing providers across the UK take part in Spring Online including Knightstone Housing Association, which won the Spring Online Best Event Award in 2013, and Halton Housing Trust which involved local schoolchildren to show the ‘grown ups’ how to send emails. Home Group’s involvement in the campaign led them to develop and extend their Spring Online formula across the country and throughout the year, helping 600 residents to get online.
Michelle Phillips, Customer Involvement Officer at Halton Housing Trust, says: “Getting involved with Spring Online has been great for The Trust, as it gives us a tangible hook for delivering our digital inclusion activities and because it’s a national campaign we receive lots of tips, advice and support to help with running our events. Just seeing the reaction from our customers and colleagues when people discover what the internet can do for them is so incredibly rewarding and has spurred us on to run other computer events as well.”
Dick Stroud, Acting Managing Director of Digital Unite says: “Spring Online provides an ideal platform for housing providers to advance their digital inclusion work with tenants and residents. Through the 13 years of this campaign, we’ve seen the powerful effects of bringing people together to use digital technology. However you do it, whether it’s by taking a couple of tablets into communal areas or holding a session at your local community centre, being part of Spring Online can make a massive difference to everyone involved.”
More information is available at www.digitalunite.com/spring-online, by calling 0800 228 9272 or emailing springonline@digitalunite.com
* Go ON UK
Ends
For media information, contact Julia Shipston: Julia.shipston@digitalunite.com or phone: 07713163003.