If nine million Brits are still not online, at 1:7 nationally that means around about 150,000 in Devon!
Online Week (October 18-24) has developed from Online Day, setting up a presence where people go, and giving that extra bit of information or encouragement that may get them clicking out that first message.
Many people still think they have to have their own computer/equipment. There are of course lots of free, low cost and not so low cost ways to get onto the internet and open up your email; from libraries to internet café’s and community centres too, like the Crown Centre in Manor Street Plymouth.
On Tuesday, October 19, at one of the Online Week events in Plymouth, Crown Centre recruitment and development worker Alison Casey, with volunteers Dave and Emma, were in the New George Street McDonalds – one of the 3,000 events all over the country aiming to help 80,000 more online during the week. New readers for the Devon Week, new users of Twitter #golw and Facebook and most importantly for new connections for those members of families and communities who are still out side the magic net!
“The key is working out whether someone just wants to have fun, wants to keep in touch with family and friends, search for jobs, or likes the idea of saving money on bills and all the many other uses that ‘those with connections’ already have access to,” said Alison
Devon Week readers who know someone who still needs that extra encouragement can log onto www.ukonlinecentres.com to find the nearest centre to any postcode. They are really friendly people willing to go at anyone’s pace to get Britain and Devon online
Linda Gilroy was MP for Plymouth Sutton from 1997 to May 2010. She set up and chaired the Devonport Strategy Group from January 2006 until May 2010.
She was a member of the Defence Select Committee from 2005-2010.
Linda is a member of the Royal United Services Institute. More about her work on Defence and Devonport can be found on the her site
- Devonport, Royal Navy and the defence of the country dealt a body blow in Strategic Defence Review - October 22, 2010
- Online week aims to help more than 80,000 get online - October 20, 2010
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