Before the COVID-19 pandemic, people without access to the internet were already at a severe disadvantage in terms of accessing essential goods, services, job opportunities and financial support. The pandemic has dramatically exacerbated this situation. People — many for the first time — have increasingly had to rely on the internet and digital devices to get things done, and to participate fully in society. In this webinar we presented and discussed the key findings from our research with Citizens Online. The aim of the research was to explore the digital experiences of older adults, and the organisations supporting them during the pandemic. Find out more: https://www.ageing-better.org.uk/events/digital-skills-connect-webinar

1. Centre for Ageing Better
ageing-better.org.uk
Digital skills to connect
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected
digital skills training for older adults?
Thursday 8 July 2021

2. Centre for Ageing Better
Welcome
today

3. ageing-better.org.uk
Agenda
1. Welcome and introduction
2. Video
3. Key messages
4. Presentation of insights from the research
5. In conversation panel discussion
6. Q&A
7. Closing summary

4. Centre for Ageing Better

5. Centre for Ageing Better
Key messages

6. Centre for Ageing Better
Digital skills to connect
7 key messages
 There is a significant digital divide among 50-70 year olds exacerbated by the pandemic
 Digital inclusion is not just about being online, its also about building skills and confidence
 Local and national organisations have had to adapt to continue to support users
 There is a lack of awareness among older adults of the support that is available
 Organisations need more financial and peer support in building digital inclusion
 Remote support has benefits beyond the role played in the pandemic
 Non-digital channels still need to be available

7. Centre for Ageing Better
Presentation of insights
from the research
James Beecher, Research Manager – Citizens Online
@jamesdbeecher

8. Centre for Ageing Better

9. Centre for Ageing Better
“I live my life online, bank, shop, get info, news, Twitter,
Facebook, MumsNet etc. I have helped run a website and
Facebook group for years and meet clients online.
I appreciate there are some who don’t use
the internet but we are 60 and 65 and feel it’s wrong to
assume everyone in our age group is incapable”
60-64 year old woman, Yorkshire and the Humber
“As someone who is from the generation that developed the
internet and brought computing into everyday use in every
home and in people's pockets I am highly skilled and
experienced in computing and in internet use.”
50-54 year old woman, South West

10. Centre for Ageing Better
27% of 50-70s living on lower incomes were
not using the internet before the pandemic

11. Centre for Ageing Better
Over half of those that were not
internet users stated that they
don’t use the internet because
they “don’t feel the need to” or
“it’s not for me” (56%)
Pandemic hasn’t always been a prompt

12. Centre for Ageing Better
“At work, if something doesn't work, you ring your IT guy?
We can't do that… Having somebody you could ring to go
through [things like printers not connecting] with you, ‘press
this button, do that and that and that should reboot it’ or
whatever, that would be really helpful for people [like me].”
Margaret, 64, Greater London
“I often need assistance when something happens that I
don’t understand but don’t know where to go for help.”
Pat, 69, East Sussex
No obvious source of support

13. Centre for Ageing Better
Doing
things
differently

14. Centre for Ageing Better
More
digital
support

15. Centre for Ageing Better
“The older learners that we’ve helped
but I’ve not spoken to for years… they
kept my number and they’ve come
back again [during the pandemic]…
they’ve all come back because
there’s too much they haven’t
been able to do…”
John Curtin, North Manchester Community Partnership
Confidence

16. Centre for Ageing Better
Signposting

17. Centre for Ageing Better
Enabling people to access services without being online
Providing devices
Using referral networks/word of mouth
Reaching people via direct mail/paper-based information
Contacting people by telephone
Using digital systems internally
Developing specialisms in Digital Champions

18. Centre for Ageing Better
“Thanks to you and your
colleagues I’ve been able to
[use the internet] more than I
did before…. It’s a fantastic
freedom… keeps your life
going instead of just sitting
stagnating while this virus
ruins the world, you can go
out and see the world as it
was or as it could be….”
Michael, 64, Brighton

19. Centre for Ageing Better
In conversation with
James Beecher, Citizens Online
Rebecca Smith, Ageless Thanet
Sarah Parkes, Age UK

20. Centre for Ageing Better
Resources from Age UK and Ageless Thanet
www.ageuk.org.uk:
– Age UK’s “Making the most of the internet" resources
– Age UK Think Digital evaluation
– www.agelessthanet.org:
– Ageless Thanet digital inclusion event on 11th August
– Short video by Ageless Thanet on the breadth of digital
activities people have engaged with

21. Centre for Ageing Better
Digital skills to connect
ageing-better.org.uk/publications
youtube.com/c/CentreforAgeingBetter

22. Centre for Ageing Better
Thank you
info@ageing-better.org.uk
@ageing_better