JK Centre for Ageing Better

Transcript

1. ageing-better.org.uk
   Bridging the digital divide
   John Kiernan
   Innovation and Change Officer
   

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2. Centre for Ageing Better
   The context
   Recent internet use in those
   aged 65 to 74 increased from
   52% in 2011 to 83% in 2019
   Recent internet users, UK, 2011 and 2019
   Source: ONS Internet users, UK:2019
   

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3. Centre for Ageing Better
   But many people are still not
   online…
   – In 2019, there were 4 million people who
   had never used the internet. Of these,
   the vast majority (3.7 million) are aged
   55 and over
   Sources: ONS Internet Users, UK: 2019
   

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4. Centre for Ageing Better
   While age does play a part, it’s
   not the only indicator of who’s
   online
   Source: Lloyds Bank UK Consumer Digital Index 2019
   – A fifth of those who have not used the
   internet within the past three months
   are under the age of 50
   – 71% of those offline have no more
   than a secondary education
   – Nearly half of those offline [47%] are
   from low-income households
   

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5. Centre for Ageing Better
   – Almost 4 in 5 people agree that COVID-19 has
   escalated the need for digital skills
   Being online has been especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic
   4 out of 5
   78%
   Source: Lloyds Bank UK Consumer Digital Index 2020
   – Around 80% people agree that using technology
   has been a vital support during the coronavirus
   outbreak
   

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6. Centre for Ageing Better
   Impact of
   COVID-19
   How has COVID-19 changed the
   landscape of digital inclusion for
   people in mid to later life?
   

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7. Centre for Ageing Better
   Homes
   – Internet connectivity
   – Access to internet in the home during the
   pandemic has been fundamental to our
   ability to daily lives
   – Yet many older people live in homes that
   still don’t have internet access
   

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8. Centre for Ageing Better
   Work
   – Searching for work: Applying to jobs online from
   home has been crucial. Yet many over 50s still
   rely on offline methods and less digitally confident
   jobseekers, and those without online access, will
   struggle
   – Employment support and claiming benefits:
   those without online access and digital skills will
   have received the least support to search for and
   apply to jobs and yet will be at highest risk of
   losing their benefits
   – Reskilling: if unemployment continues to rise
   and industries that were already in decline do not
   recover, access to digital skills will be even more
   important for those seeking to retrain
   

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9. Centre for Ageing Better
   Health
   – Physical activity: social distancing measures
   have meant many more people becoming less
   physically active. Offline resources to support
   people to remain active are significantly more
   limited
   – Telehealth: the pandemic has moved many more
   health consultations with GPs or specialists online.
   – COVID-19 health information: the information
   and guidance about how we should act in
   response to Covid-19 is largely online
   

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10. Centre for Ageing Better
    – Access to equipment and internet: With libraries and other
    sources of free Wi-Fi closed during lockdown, some people
    have lost their online access
    – Community participation: When the pandemic first hit,
    many local community groups switched to supporting people
    virtually. This risks further excluding those who cannot get
    online
    – Move to online only services: The move to virtual banking,
    shopping and public services has been massively accelerated
    during the outbreak. As many services move to ‘digital by
    default’, it’s important service providers remember their
    responsibility to people offline
    Communities
    

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11. Centre for Ageing Better
    What enables and what prevents people in later life from getting
    online?
    

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12. Centre for Ageing Better
    8 principles
    1. Flexibility and relevance: structured, skills-focused
    courses won’t work. Concentrate on helping people to
    do the things they need and want to do online.
    2. The right pace: older learners will pick up information
    and will progress their learning at different paces –
    responsive approach is key
    3. Repetition and reflection: creating space for repetition
    and reflection on success is vital to success
    4. The right language: avoid jargon and focus on the
    task, not the tech
    5. One-to-one support: a strong tutor-pupil relationship is
    key to building confidence.
    6. Time to build relationships: time to build
    communication and trust helps to maintain learners’
    interest in digital and increase their self efficacy.
    7. Ongoing support: support needs to be open-ended,
    allowing learners to return with questions and problems.
    8. Co-design: involve a wide range of users in the
    shaping and design of all services, new and existing, to
    ensure their relevance and effectiveness.
    

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13. Centre for Ageing Better
    Addressing the digital divide:
    recommendations
    Source: Lloyds Bank UK Consumer Digital Index 2019
    – Make provisions for those not online
    – Make technology accessible
    – Provide equipment and internet access
    – Invest in building digital skills
    – Provide a central resource bank for digital
    champions
    – Integrate digital skills assessments into other
    support
    

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14. Centre for Ageing Better
    Thank you
    John Kiernan
    John.kiernan@ageing-better.org.uk
    

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