Digital evolution 2013 - Big Lottery Fund

Digital Evolution ConferenceLinda QuinnDirector of Communications and Marketing.

04 December 2013

Big Lottery Fund Mission & Values

• Bringing improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need

• Making best use of lottery money• Using knowledge and evidence• Being supportive and helpful

• One in five adults (11 million) do not have the basic online skills to benefit from what the internet has to offer.

• 11% or the population or 7.1 million adults have never used the internet at all

• This compares to 67 per cent of adults in the UK who use the internet every day.

Basic Online Skills

“The thought of turning on a computer or even a mobile phone terrified me! .... on the first morning of the computer club I thought I’d go and see what it’s all about, even though I was scared. Now I’m so glad I turned up and feel a lot more confident around computers. I have learnt how to send emails and how to surf the internet.”

Attendee (aged 67) at computer club in Oldham. The project received £10k from Big Lottery Fund in 2012

Gaining Confidence

Who needs basic online skills?

Over 65’s• Half are without basic skills• Between 5 and 16% report loneliness and 12% feel isolated.

Young people not in work or education

• 17% would not apply for jobs that need basic computer skills. 10% felt ‘out of their depth’ using a computer.

• 72% of employers wouldn’t even interview entry level candidates with no IT skills.

Learning for everyone

“This was a great workshop - energising and inspiring! It demonstrates how learning a new skill together can help break down barriers between generations”

“Thank you for the course - I've booked my first holiday using the internet and I got a much better price and saved so much more time! Before this I would have had to go to the travel agencies to do this”

Participants in Northampton Volunteer Centre’s School Of Life project (£387K Big Lottery funding)

• Big Lottery Fund is one of the founder members

of Go On UK.

• Joining with Age UK, BBC, EE, E.On, Lloyds Banking Group, Post Office, Talk Talk to promote Basic Online Skills

• Very important that we share the same language and aims – single definition of Basic Online Skills

A Strategic Approach

Supporting Basic Online Skills

• Big Lottery Fund has supported local online skills projects through programmes like Awards for All and Reaching Communities

• Awards for All gives group a quick and easy way to get small Lottery grants of between £300 and £10,000

• Reaching Communities grants are available from £10,000, upwards and funding can last for up to 5 years

Supporting Basic Online Skills

• In October, we launched a £15m programme specifically to support up to three major UK-wide projects

• We are looking for applications from national or UK-wide organisations with reach and influence

• In the new year, we will provide opportunities for smaller, local organisations to work with the lead applicant to ensure we’re really reaching those in need.

Making A Difference

“I did not have a clue before, but now I can send emails, surf the web and look up hotels and go back down memory lane to look at old singers of my day such as Matt Monro,” said 87-year-old ‘golden ambassador’ Albert Hearn. “It really is a social activity and has made the people here closer, as it is something of a fellowship

Participant in Essex UnITe (£420k from Reaching Communities