Citizens Online Network Update Spring 24
Hi Everyone, We hope you are looking forward to the Easter Break. The Citizens Online helpline will be closed from Friday 29 March and re-open on Tuesday 2 April.
Advocating for Older People in the Digital Age at the Women and Equalities Committee
Recently, Citizens Online were invited to give evidence at the Women and Equalities Committee, on the impact of digitisation on older people. Citizens Online highlighted the need for: a non-digital option to be available for essential services; better digital product design including digitally excluded people in the design process; funding for a range of digital support services including at-home support for people that cannot get out into the community; better and more affordable connectivity options across the UK. You can read more about the enquiry here. The Committee will make recommendations in May.
Accessing vital services online – helping Claire in her own home
Claire was referred into Digital Brighton & Hove by her GP practice so she could become confident to access essential services online. Claire has multiple complex health conditions and as her husband had died very recently, she was in need of some support at home to become more independent. Claire can’t get out into the community easily so our digital champion, Anna helped Claire to master online food shopping. Claire said, “I am so pleased. I can’t thank you enough. Just to be able to do this has made all the difference and I feel in control of this. To be able to have this independence, I can’t tell you how much of a difference it makes. I feel like I am now ticking things off the list of things I need to be able to do. I never knew this service was available. I don’t know what I would have done without. It seems easy with you here helping but if I had tried to do it on my own, I would have given up”. You can read the full case study here
The call for a Minimum Digital Living Standard
Citizens Online, supports the call for a Minimum Digital Living Standard to be agreed and supported by policymakers in the UK. Minimum Digital Living Standard (MDLS) for households with children is a ground-breaking, bottom-up approach to define what households need to be digitally included. The first report from the research, launched on 15 March sets out what members of the public – parents, young people – say that families across the UK need today to stay connected.
The Minimum Digital Living Standard definition is: A minimum digital standard of living includes, but is more than, having accessible internet, adequate equipment, and the skills, knowledge, and support people need. It is about being able to communicate, connect, and engage with opportunities safely and with confidence.
The work is being led by Professor Simeon Yates, University of Liverpool and you can read more about the project here
We are recruiting Digital Champions
Our projects in Gwynedd and Brighton & Hove need more Volunteer Digital Champions. We are particularly keen for people that speak another language to join our team, to support refugees and asylum seekers with digital skills support. To apply, please follow this link to complete an application form and start your Volunteering journey today.
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