Digital Inclusion

Supported by

Wednesday 23rd June 2010, Guoman Charing Cross Hotel - London, 09:10 - 16:15

Tackling Social Exclusion Through Technology: Delivering Digital Inclusion

Overview

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. The Internet is a hugely empowering tool. However, many of those who stand to benefit the most from the democratising power of the web are yet to engage with technology at all. Of the 10 million Britons who are offline, 4 million are also ‘socially excluded' - mostly the elderly, the long-term unemployed or families with children.

The Digital Britain Report, published by the former government on 16th June 2009,
identified a new term, digital participation. Digital Participation is fundamental to creating a fairer, more inclusive and more dynamic society and economy. The report announced the establishment of the Digital Participation Consortium, made up of over 65 representatives from industry and the third sector and chaired by the communications regulator Ofcom.

The National Plan for Digital Participation, published in March 2010, set a target for a 60 per cent reduction in the 12.5 million people who are not currently online, with older people and the less well off a particular focus. To help achieve this reduction the Consortium will lead a social marketing campaign and distribute funding for projects to help people get interested in and learn to use the internet.

Furthermore, Martha Lane Fox, Digital Inclusion Champions, aims to get 4 million of the most disadvantaged people online over the next 3 years with Race Online 2012. Race Online 2012 aims to bring people and organisations together to improve the life chances of the 10 million people who have never been online, particularly the four million who are also socially and economically excluded.

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 put an end to the digital divide.

09:10	Registration and Coffee
10:00	Chair’s Welcome Address Stephen Dodson, Director, DC10plus (CONFIRMED)
10:10	Towards Digital Engagement Role of the Digital Champion, progress and achievements to date Getting six million people in Britain online within two years Addressing chronic exclusion, making technology accessible to all Building relationships with people who distrust services and are excluded from society Race2012: next steps Felicity Shaw, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Champion for Digital Inclusion (CONFIRMED)
10:30	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 Anne Faulkner, Head of Policy and Business Development, UK Online Centres (CONFIRMED)
10:50	Delivering digital participation: the consumer perspective Sparking an interest: the need for a compelling personal hook The importance of end-to-end support Unmet needs: the purchase and set-up experience The challenge of attaining universal take-up Anna Bradley, Chair, Communications Consumer Panel (CONFIRMED)
11.10	Texthelp Read&Write, addressing dyslexia and creating inclusivity in Edinburgh City Libraries Alastair Campbell, Texthelp Systems Ltd (CONFIRMED)
11:25	Questions and Answers Session
11:45	Coffee Break and Networking
12:05	Keynote: Digital Government For All Digital Government for all - providing easy-to-understand information on all government services that is accessible 24/7 Ensuring technology is accessible Encouraging people to become engaged with technology Jayne Nickalls , Chief Executive, Directgov (CONFIRMED)
12:25	Inclusion Through Digital Economy Getting six million people in Britain online within two years Addressing chronic exclusion, making technology accessible to all Building relationships with people who distrust services and are excluded from society Stephen Dodson, Director, DC10plus (CONFIRMED)
12:45	Digital Switchover Programme: Delivering Digital Inclusion Who is the Switchover Help Scheme? The Digital Switchover and Inclusion What's so hard? Delivering Inclusion Shera Allen, Head of Customer Strategies, Switchover Help Scheme BBC (CONFIRMED)
13:05	Questions and Answers Session
13:15	Lunch Break and Networking
14:15	Empowering Public Choices in Health Links between poor health and digital exclusion NHS Choices: care and treatment the digital way Improving the quality and efficiency of patient and carer services Providing the opportunity to inform and engage with their community who use services, carers and the public Gary Ashby, Programme Director, NHS Choices (CONFIRMED)
14:35	Empowering Children and Young People in a Digital World Getting young people online: examining the national roll-out of Home Access Ensuring every young person can use a computer and internet at home for their education Digital literacy: modifying the curriculum to support the vision of next generation learning Niel McLean, Executive Director, Schools and Families, Becta (CONFIRMED)
14:55	Coffee Break and Networking
15:15	Digital Inclusion: Improving Life Chances of Older People Promote 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 Nancy Johnston, Development Manager, Digital Inclusion, Age UK (CONFIRMED)
15:35	Looking Local: Driving Innovation Through Innovative Technology Inclusion through innovation How ICT can build personal capacity, helping individuals to address some of the key drivers of social exclusion Offering access to local government and relevant related services on digital interactive TV Removing barriers and improving access: examples of real life stories Guy Giles, operations Manager, Looking Local (CONFIRMED)
15:55	Questions and Answers Session
16:15	Close

*programme subject to change without notice

Exhibitor

Communities 2.0

Texthelp

Audience

Delegates will be drawn from central government departments and bodies, trade unions, think tanks, businesses and employers, regional development agencies, adult and community learning providers, technology leaders, academia; legal and voluntary sectors; local authorities, local strategic partnerships, social inclusion officers, community safety teams, housing organisations, primary care trusts, youth offending teams, police officers, children’s trusts, welfare groups, local, regional and national health services, regional development agencies, UK online centres and all those involved and interested in the social exclusion agenda.