NPC Connections for All campaign webinar to reveal dangers of Digital Poverty among older people
The National Pensioners’ Convention will look at how ‘digital poverty’ is isolating and endangering older people at a webinar for Dignity Action Day 2021.
The online summit on Monday, 1st February (11am) brings together a panel of leading experts to discuss the need to keep millions of the UK’s oldest and most vulnerable connected. Not only will they examine how to help more older people get online, the speakers* will also consider how to keep those who cannot, or do not want to get online to stay connected.
Jan Shortt, NPC General Secretary Jan Shortt said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has shown how valuable online video apps (such as, House Party, Skype, Zoom and others) are in helping older people to stay in touch with family while they shield at home. However, the NPC believes many older people are getting left behind in the ‘digital first’ age. They are often digitally excluded, either because they don’t know how to use, don’t have or can’t afford the broadband and the digital devices – the laptops, tablets or smartphones – to get online.
“The NPC Connections for All webinar marks the launch of the first part of the NPC’s campaign to end digital poverty and exclusion, and promote digital inclusion for older people through training and access to free broadband, free online security, and to digital devices.”
She added: “We are also concerned to hear how the ‘digital first’ agenda of utility companies, banks and even GP practices – and the move towards a cashless society - is seriously disadvantaging our oldest and most vulnerable. NPC members will be asking our panellists if enough is being done to keep all older people in the loop so they can stay safe and connected, whether they are on the internet or not.”
NPC Digital Working Party research found that well over half of respondents who were not online blamed lack of knowledge or lack of confidence as reasons for not engaging. However, many of them said they would be interested in going online if they had the resources and computer training.
*Speakers at the webinar, which will be chaired by NPC GS Jan Shortt so far include: Heléna Herklots, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales; Helen Milner, CEO, Good Things Foundation (digital training); Jenny Haskey, CEO, Citizens Online (digital training projects); Roger Jenkins, National Officer, GMB (Save Our Cash campaign against cashless society). Further speakers will be announced shortly.
*To register to join the NPC Connections for All Webinar at 11am, Monday, 1st February, 2021 – which will also be streamed live on YouTube, Please follow the links below:
Register in advance for this webinar:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. A Reminder Email will be sent 1 hour before the webinar
The event will also be live streamed on the NPC YouTube channel
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