In our long-held experience we know that getting older people to use computers and the internet is about helping them to unlock the door on the digital world so that they, and the people who support them, can realise its far-reaching potential and fling that door wide open on their own.
One great example of this was at Central Bedfordshire Council’s Housing whose residents got a taste of the huge benefits digital literacy can bring when they took part in the national Get Digital programme in 2011. A Government funded digital inclusion initiative, Get Digital included group learning tuition delivered by Digital Unite across 196 sheltered housing schemes to promote, develop and sustain digital literacy and awareness among residents.
Such was the success and impact of this Get Digital programme in the two participating schemes in Central Bedfordshire that the Sheltered Tenants Action Group (STAG) decided to see how this project might be extended to other residents. Garnering support from their local authority they successfully applied for a £10,000 Big Lottery grant in the summer 2012 which was used to purchase computers and printers for 10 of their schemes.
The money was also used to employ Digital Unite tutor, Geoff Pickerell to provide face-to-face tuition to the schemes’ residents which started last September. Geoff explains: “We organised four sessions per scheme where I taught two people at a time. The learners were aged anywhere between 60 and 97 years, all with different abilities. Some people were complete beginners and their hands were shaking with nerves, others had their own laptops and wanted to improve their skills. Many were quite task driven and knew exactly what they wanted to learn, like using Skype for example. This made it all the more interesting and rewarding too. One chap was physically handicapped and wanted help with setting up a mail merge to print labels so he could write letters to people more easily. It was great to help him use the computers so he can have the independence he needs.”
Once all of the teaching sessions have been completed an awards ceremony will be held to celebrate the residents’ achievements and plans are in place to help keep the digital activities going. One scheme has already linked up with a local college where student volunteers have been enlisted to help support residents with their IT learning and some residents are using their knowledge to help others get online. STAG is also exploring partnership opportunities with local organisations and extra funding applications via the Big Lottery continuation fund and their local town councils.
Margaret Luther, the Chair of STAG said: “Whilst applying for funding and co-ordinating the schemes have proved challenging at times, being able to bring the schemes in to the 21st century has been so worthwhile. It has absolutely opened up a whole new world for our residents. Take, for example, one of our residents, George. He’s 90, is visually impaired and finds it difficult to remember things. Before these activities had started he had never used computers - now he’s regularly using Skype to keep in touch with his family in New Zealand. Helping residents to help themselves and encouraging them to learn new things is what it’s all about and we hope that we will be able to keep the digital adventure going in all of our 18 schemes here in Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard”.
If you are part of a housing organisation looking to build on momentum and enthusiasm for all things digital then why not take a look at the recently announced Digital Deal. Funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Communities and Local Government the match-funding scheme is expected to support up to 10 housing projects across the country help social housing tenants improve their online skills. Landlords who want to bid for part of this £400,000 funding have until 3rd June to apply via the Digital Housing Hub.
With our proven experience, tutor network, digital champion training, free computer guides and other resources we’re well placed to support you with developing and sustaining digital inclusion activities in your organisation, take a look at our dedicated web pages for housing communities to find out more.