Get online week 2010
National Get online week is set to take place 18 – 24 October. It’s the fourth year of the ‘Get online’ campaign, which has grown from a Get online day in October to a full week of activity. The first Get online day got 10,000 people online for the first time, and it’s expanded to the point where this year the aim is to get 80,000 people into nearly 3,000 Get online week events across the country.
An estimated 9.2 million Brits don’t use computers and the internet, and with most new jobs now requiring IT skills, government and corporate services going online, new internet bargains and cheap communication channels, being left behind technology has some serious side effects. What’s more, the problem is worse for those already at a disadvantage – if you’re older, disabled, or on a low income, you’re far more likely to be offline.The idea of Get online week is to give some of those people a chance to catch up.
Managing Director of UK online centres, Helen Milner, explains how the campaign has grown. She says: “This year we’ve extended Get online week so anyone can run an event – not just existing UK online centres. While the current freeze on public sector marketing spend means we can’t run a big promotional campaign, we have been able to get event holders special packs to help them drive footfall on a local level. We know from experience that local activity on the ground is crucial in getting people to take action and get involved in their communities. “We’ve also been working closely with UK Digital Champion Martha Lane Fox and her Race Online 2012 partners to raise more general awareness of the campaign, and the benefits of being online. Get online week is supported by organisations including BT, mobile network 3, the Post Office, Nominet Trust, Google, Macdonalds and the Museums and Library Authority, while the BBC’s First Click media literacy campaign is being timed to complement Get online week.” Marta Lane Fox said: “Digital technologies have revolutionised the way people access and use information. At the very heart of communities, libraries offer unique access to a wealth of content, learning and leisure activities and will be a vital partner in this year’s nationwide campaign Get online week; which is supporting the UK’s 9.2 million offline adults to get started with computers and get online.” A survey of internet users for Sky reckons that 78% of them save time and money and 52% said it enriched their lives. There are over 3,000 Get online week events taking place visit getonlineweek.com to find one near you
