News and views

One Digital is an exciting new digital skills programme that is being delivered in collaboration by six organisations: Digital Unite, Age UK, Affinity Sutton, AbilityNet, Citizens Online and Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. (S.C.V.O).

Digital Unite has joined forces with Silver Training to extend the home-based computer tuition support it provides.

From today (1^st October) all of Digital Unite’s tuition enquiries for their existing tutor network will be directed to Silver Training who will own and manage the referrals on behalf of Digital Unite, see more here.

Westward Housing Group is a major housing association in the south west. They joined the Digital Champions Network as part of their Bee Online digital inclusion project and their team of Digital Champions have so far delivered over 100 teaching sessions to help residents develop basic digital skills.

 Digital Unite is looking for a Project Delivery Manager and up to 4 Part-time Digital Champion Mentors to join its team. This is a great opportunity to be an important part of One Digital, a new and innovative collaborative programme funded by the Big Lottery that will help thousands of people across the UK who are currently losing out through lack of digital skills.

Digital Unite is proud to be part of an exciting and unique collaborative digital skills programme developed by SCVO, Age UK, Citizens Online and Digital Unite's partners Affinity Sutton and AbilityNet.

Digital Unite is proud to be part of an exciting and unique collaborative digital skills programme developed by SCVO, Age UK, Citizens Online and Digital Unite's partners Affinity Sutton and AbilityNet.

An evaluation of Hyde’s Getting Online programme, published on Tuesday 8 September, has found that over 80% of participants surveyed after training remain regular internet users. The 500 residents trained last year showed increased confidence in completing a range of online skills, in particular; accessing information, emailing and online safety.

Genesis Housing Association has become the newest member of Digital Unite’s Digital Champions Network.

With over 33,000 properties and around 100,000 residents across London and the East of England, joining the Network forms an integral part of Genesis’ drive to help more of their communities to be online. 

Wandle Housing Association has become the latest member of Digital Unite’s Digital Champions Network.

Membership of the Network will help Wandle to train and support a team of volunteers, drawn from residents, the local community and staff, who can go on to effectively help other residents to use computers and the internet confidently.

Skills for Care has joined Digital Unite’s Digital Champions Network (DCN) as part of a pilot initiative to help improve the digital skills of the adult social care workforce. 

“The rewards scheme is fantastic and easy to use with the devices provided in a matter of days. I cannot speak highly enough of the service and support from all concerned.”

Digital Unite is delighted to be working with Nottinghamshire County Council on their Nottinghamshire Digital Champions Network (NDCN).

This year’s Spring Online campaign (20 - 26 April) saw hundreds of events held across the UK to help inspire local people to have a lasting use of the internet.

Helping people to ‘spring online’

“At 71 I never thought I would do this, I am so glad I came”.

Digital Unite’s national digital inclusion campaign, Spring Online is taking place next week between 20 – 26 April 2015.

Milton Keynes Council has become the latest member of Digital Unite’s Digital Champions Network.

Following their successful receipt of funding from the Local Government Association’s Digital Experts Programme the Council will be using the Network to help residents with the impact of Welfare Reform and Universal Credit.

North Hertfordshire Homes, a member of the Digital Champions Network and providers of over 9000 homes, have announced a campaign to help their tenants get online.

 Leading housing association L&Q has enlisted Digital Unite to deliver a three-year digital inclusion programme aimed at getting more of their 130,000 residents online.   

The programme follows on from L&Q’s successful Digital 300 and Digital 400 initiatives which provides residents with bespoke computer tuition, equipment and internet access and further reflects their commitment as a signatory of the UK Digital Inclusion Charter.

The Connected Housing Initiative (CHI) has launched a brand new web resource to help housing associations find the right kit and connectivity solutions for their residents.

 Technology giant Fujitsu has teamed up with a local learning centre to help residents in Bracknell get online as part of this year’s Spring Online campaign. 

Spring Online is Digital Unite’s award-winning digital inclusion campaign. For one week each year (20 – 26 April 2015), hundreds of free Spring Online events are held across the UK in a variety of locations to help people to take their first steps online.

The London Borough of Hackney has become the newest member of Digital Unite’s Digital Champions Network (DCN4H) as they aim to help more of their residents to get online.

L&H Homes has become the newest member of Digital Unite’s Digital Champions Network for Housing (DCN4H).

L&H Homes has over 6500 rented properties across East Midlands, and the East of England. Becoming part of the DCN4H is a reflection of their commitment to help more of their residents to be online. 

Digital Champions in the Digital Champions Network for Housing can now receive a range of mobile kit and connectivity for helping local residents online.

The Digital Champions Network for Housing (DCN4H) is Digital Unite’s training and support solution for developing effective Digital Champions in local communities. It currently has 20 member organisations including 18 housing providers and over 600 Digital Champions.

A new level of support for housing providers is being piloted over the next few months as part of the Digital Champions Network for Housing (DCN4H) which includes a dedicated helpline to link learners with their local Digital Champions. 

Martine Ekango, 35, has been a Digital Champion for The Hyde Group for the past four months. She came across Hyde’s Digital Champion programme when she was using the computer facilities at Hyde’s local community centre in Brent to support her job searching. Now she helps 16 learners at the same centre every Tuesday with a range of tasks from handling a mouse and keyboard to sending emails and using Skype.