socialgandhi

UK digital champion Martha Lane Fox (lastminute.com, remember that? etc) wants to get everyone of working age in the UK online by 2012!

The Networked Nation Manifesto, published today (yip, another Manifesto), highlights the lack of net access “among the disadvantaged, unemployed and retired” throughout the UK, and what we can all do to help change things.

Ten million people in the UK have never used the internet – equivalent to the entire populations of London, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow and Sheffield combined. Four million of these ‘offliners’ are society’s most disadvantaged: 39% are over 65; 38% are unemployed; and 19% are adults in families with children.

We can only assume that the situation is even more challenging in Northern Ireland given our traditional position at the bottom of the UK regional digital inclusion tables.

Think about what that means!

If you’re reading this, you’ll probably know that we now live in a world defined by constant communication – 40m adults in the UK use the web, and 30 million of us go online daily. 25m of us are on Facebook. 16m of us watch TV or listen to the radio via the web. Life’s great if you’re connected!

But here’s a few more interesting facts:

• 3.1m over-65s go more than a week without seeing a friend, family or neighbour, yet 6.4m over-65s have never used the internet, and 63% of them say they ’see no reason’ to get online (half of all internet users say the web increases contact with friends who live further away).
• 90% of new jobs require computer skills. Seven million job adverts were placed online in the UK last year. Without web skills we’re increasingly cut off from the labour market. Yet 270,000 of the 1.5m people claiming Jobseekers Allowance of £0.8bn a year are without these basic skills. 
• 58% of us buy goods and services online in the UK and the average household saves £560 a year by shopping and paying bills online. To give over-65s the same amount that the average household saves from shopping and paying bills online via the State Pension would cost Government £6bn a year.

David Cameron has backed the campaign, saying that “digital inclusion is essential for a modern dynamic economy”, although it’s not clear if the government will put their money where David’s mouth is.

The campaign also suggests a few initiatives that will help Martha achieve her ambitious target for 2012 (Olympic Year) including working with local charities, establishing so-called digital champions in all local authorities and ensuring there is internet access in every jobcenter plus and public libraries by the end of the year.

The manifesto also suggests that retailers should provide “internet access packages for people on low incomes and the elderly, with low up-front costs, affordable monthly payments, and ongoing support”.

All good stuff and let’s hope Raceonline2012 helps give more power to more people.

It’s not just about economic necessity, it’s about social justice and it’s why we all have to act now!

Go to www.raceonline2012.org/manifesto to read the Manifesto, follow the campaign on Twitter at http://twitter.com/raceonline_2012 , on their YouTube channel, or listen to what Martha has to say below.