Lastminute.com co-founder Martha Lane Fox has launched the next phase of the Government-backed ‘Race Online Camapign’ with low price recycled PC products launched nationally today with prices starting from £92.
Lane Fox, named ‘The UK’s Digital Champion’ in her role to get the 30 million daily internet users in the UK to pass their skills on to those who are yet to go online, annouced the next phase of the initiative.
The campaign has launched a national network of local volunteer ‘digital champions’ who will help to inspire, encourage and support nine million offline adults in the UK to get started with the internet.
Recent Ofcom and BBC research findings show a lack of awareness of the benefits of being on the web and initial lack of confidence in taking their first steps online are the biggest barrier to internet take up from non-users and that families and friends play a key role for nearly all recent adopters.
‘£100 PCs’
With the support of UK Online Centres, Post Office and BT, Microsoft has brought together a group of refurbishers – Europc, Remploy and Partners IT – to create www.getonlineathome.org and provide affordable, accessible, ready-to-use refurbished computers to people across the UK. Get Online @ Home is working with Three to deliver low-cost mobile broadband as well as offering fixed line services with TalkTalk, Post Office, BT, Sky, O2, plusnet, Everythingeverywhere and Primus Saver.
The Get Online @ Home Windows 7 package includes a rich software suite, flat screen, mouse and keyboard and starts at £95 for people claiming certain government benefits and registered charities. There is also a £165 package which is open to all.
Meanwhile, Remploy’s £92 refurbished computer is now on sale nationwide via www.ecycleonline.co.uk or by calling 08450 268293. The package includes a PC with flat screen monitor, mouse and keyboard including, operating system and an Office package.
In addition, XMA is offering a leading brand Windows XP PC from £120. The package is being trialed by Mecca Bingo where customers can purchase a computer via www.getonline.xma.co.uk or by calling 0115 846 4120.
‘Networked nation’
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said: “”Today there are nine million adults in the UK who have never used the internet – and nearly half of them are among our most disadvantaged people. That’s why the work Martha Lane Fox is doing as the UK’s Digital Champion is so important. And it’s also why I’m so keen for everyone to get behind Race Online 2012 and its ambition to get as many people online as possible by the time of the London Olympics.
“Already we are making encouraging progress. Since Martha launched her Manifesto for a Networked Nation in Downing Street last July, we’ve seen eleven hundred partners of all sizes and sectors get on board. But we need to go further. And often it is the impact of volunteers that can make the biggest difference. So today I am delighted to welcome the announcement of 100,000 new local Digital Champion volunteers – the UK’s biggest ever cross-sector volunteer force and a make a massive plea to those of you who aren’t yet involved, to sign up now. By supporting this vital campaign we really can become the first nation in the world to get everyone online and ensure that something the vast majority of us take for granted can be enjoyed by all of us.”
Race Online 2012 is now at scale to fulfill its ambition for the UK to be the world’s first ‘networked nation’ with at least 100,000 ‘digital champion’ volunteers from organisations including Mecca Bingo, John Lewis, Post Office, Comet, Age UK, Scouts, BT and Jobcentre Plus.
To recognise the volunteers’ efforts, learndirect has also now announced the development of a digital mentoring qualification to demonstrate to employers that there are tens of thousands of people in the UK with the training and skills needed to help coach and mentor people online.
The UK Digital Champion, Martha Lane Fox, said: “Today is a massive step forward in our ambition to create a truly remarkable digital UK where the internet is a tool that everybody can use for their benefit. Race Online 2012 always intended to solve the critical social and economic issues that arise when people are left behind as technology advances.
“By bringing together an extraordinary mix of cross-sector partners we aim to eliminate the three major barriers that we know prevent people from getting online – access, motivation and skills. Today we are beginning to address all of these by creating a massive local digital champion network aimed at giving people advice, support and assistance on a local level and by kick starting a low cost recycled marketplace’.
To find out more about how to be a digital champion, go to www.helppassiton.co.uk
http://www.raceonline2012.org
