Digital Inclusion

Wednesday 1st December 2010, Guoman Charing Cross Hotel - London, 09:10 - 16:15

Digital Inclusion: Driving Digital Participation and Engagement

N.B. Despite the current weather conditions, this event is still scheduled to take place

Overview

In the UK there are over 10 million adults who have never used the internet. Four million of those are among the most disadvantaged; 39% are over 65, 38% are unemployed, 19% are families with children. In an age of expanding opportunity in which rapid technological advances are transforming the world and the way we work and live, it is more important than ever that people have the opportunity and skills to enjoy and take advantage of these new technological developments.

Although access to the internet has both a social and a moral case, with more than 90 per cent of all new jobs requiring basic internet knowledge, there is also a clear economic case. Digital inclusion is also essential for a dynamic modern economy and can help to make government more efficient and effective.

The new coalition government has shown its commitment to bridging the digital divide by appointing Martha Lane Fox as the UK Digital Champion on 18 June 2010. Martha will continue the Race Online 2012 campaign, which she founded, to encourage as many people as possible to get online. Race Online 2010 aims to get 4 million of the most disadvantaged people online over the next 3 years.

In Our 'Manifesto for a Networked Nation,' published 12 July 2010, Martha outlines her ambition to make the UK the first nation where everyone can use the web. The Networked Nation Manifesto sets out detailed plans for government, industry and charities to help everyone get online. Research detailed in the manifesto identifies important social benefit: the web empowers the unemployed, the web can prevent the social isolation of older people and the web improves educational performance: children who are online at home can achieve a two-grade improvement in a subject at GCSE.

In the Comprehensive Spending Review 2010 a total of £530 million will be invested over the Spending Review period to support the UK’s broadband network, benefiting around 2 million households, including in some of the most remote areas of the UK.

Agenda

This forum will offer delegates the opportunity to take the debate beyond the existing legislative framework and have a timely opportunity to discuss how we can work together to drive up digital participation and drive social inclusion through the digital economy.

09:10	Registration and Coffee
10:00	Chair’s Welcome Address William Hoyle, Chief Executive, Charity Technology Trust (CONFIRMED)
10:05	Morning Keynote: Building A Networked Nation: Empowering Citizens to Go Online Getting 10 million adults in the UK who have never used the internet online Taking forward Manifesto for a Networked Nation: making the UK the first nation where everyone can use the web Role and remit of the UK Digital Champion Inspiring more people to get online Encouraging and rewarding more people to get online Supporting people who need a helping hand Encouraging employees to become local digital champions Improving digital literacy Annie Dare, Special Adviser, Race Online 2012 (CONFIRMED)
10:25	Digital Engagement: Empowering Citizens through Technology Progress on achieving digital inclusion Which people make up the digitally excluded and why aren’t they online? The economic case for digital inclusion What UK online centres are doing Future directions for digital inclusion Helen Milner, Managing Director, UK Online Centres (CONFIRMED)
10:45	Questions and Answers Session
11:15	Coffee Break and Networking
11:35	Libraries Leading the Race to Get the Socially Excluded Online Libraries role in encouraging the 10 million still digitally excluded to be supported to get online by 2012 Converting 500,000 people to the web via libraries Empowering local communities by signposting people to online public services Improving the life chances of the 10 million people in the UK who are currently offline and in particular the 4 million of these who are also socially excluded Providing face-to-face support to build digital skills, literacy and confidence Working with local authorities to provide services online Roy Clare, Chief Executive, Museums Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) (CONFIRMED)
11:55	Social Inclusion Through the Digital Economy Social Inclusion Through the Digital Economy Research Hub RCUK Digital Economy Programme Addressing digital exclusion with new technology Building an inclusive digital economy Assisting people suffering from dementia Working with 3000 users Professor Paul Watson, Director, Social Inclusion Through the Digital Economy Research Hub, Newcastle University (CONFIRMED)
12:15	Effective Public Services for Everybody: Creating an Inclusive Health Service Empowering citizens to take charge of their own health Links between poor health and digital exclusion Opening up information and access to services to all Internet users Reaching digitally excluded people Working with community intermediaries Bob Gann, Head of Strategy and Engagement, NHS Choices (CONFIRMED)
12:35	Questions and Answers Session
13:00	Lunch and Networking
14:00	Innovating Public Services to Encourage More People to Go Online Improving the range and ease of use of online services and empowering people to take more control of their interactions with public services Incentivising higher take up of online public services How efficiencies can best be realised through the online delivery of public services Government thinking internet first’ in designing services Digital inclusion and efficiency savings: getting government to deliver better for less Improving the convenience and efficiency of public services by driving online delivery Digital engagement and the Big Society Bob Kamall, Digital Delivery Programme, Cabinet Office (CONFIRMED)
14:20	Questions and Answers Session
14:30	Coffee and Networking
14:50	Panel Discussion: Getting the 10 million Online Empowering young people and children in a digital world Ensuring every young person can use a computer and internet at home for their education Promoting age equality and enable older people to make full contributions to our economy, society and neighbourhoods through technology Using IT to promote health, independence and wellbeing for all older people Achieving greater social inclusion of the most disadvantaged older people and challenge the causes of exclusion Helping disabled people unlock their talent through technology Charities, social enterprises and community groups raising awareness of the benefits of internet use to the people whom they serve How should public, private and community internet services best fit together? Pat Thompson, Assistant Director of Communications, Catch22 (CONFIRMED) Jaqui Devereux, Director, Community Media Association (CONFIRMED) Nigel Lewis, Chief Executive, AbilityNet (CONFIRMED) Claire Easterman, Operations Director, YouthNet (CONFIRMED) David Mortimer, Head of Digital Inclusion, Age UK (CONFIRMED) John Fisher, Chief Executive, Citizens Online (CONFIRMED)
16:15	Chairs Closing Remarks and Close

* programme subject to change without notice

Audience

Delegates will be drawn from central government departments, local authorities, trade unions, think tanks, businesses and employers, regional development agencies, adult and community learning providers, UK Online Centres, housing associations, technology leaders, academia; legal and voluntary sectors; and will include, local strategic partnerships, social inclusion officers, IT managers, heads of customer strategies, service improvement officers, heads of online services, heads of social inclusion, digital inclusion managers, and online service deliver managers.