Digital Inclusion

The Post Office is proud to support Go ON Give an Hour, the largest ever campaign to try and help get people online.

There are still 8.7 million people in the UK who’ve never made a free internet call to a loved one, explored their interests or got a great deal online. In fact, in the UK:

• The average household can save up to £560 a year by shopping and paying bills online (Race Online 2012)
• 90% of jobs require basic internet skills (Nielsen Company 2009) and people with good ICT skills can earn up to 10% more than people without such skills (Centre for the Economics of Education, 2007)
• Over 25 million people use Facebook to share photos and news with family and friends, and it’s entirely free. This is just one of the ways that being online can combat the social isolation and loneliness experienced by 3.1 million over 65 year olds who see a friend, relative or neighbour less than once a week. (Participle.net)

If you’ve got a relation, friend or neighbour who is missing out on the internet, they’re missing out on loads of ways to make their life easier and more enjoyable.

On the 30th October the clocks go back and we all have an extra hour. Imagine how exciting it would be if we all used this time to help someone get started online....

If no one you know needs help, why not volunteer at a local charity, care home or social club?

Get your guide to what to do in an hour, watch inspirational films as famous faces show how they use the web, and find further local support or places to volunteer by pledging an hour at www.go-on.co.uk/giveanhour.

If you know someone who would like to attend a beginners course in their local area, call freephone 0800 77 1234.
 

How is the Post Office helping?

Many of our customers do not use the internet and we want to help people take their first steps online.

• Many of our staff have signed up as digital champions to help people get online, making use of the extra hour we all have on 30 October.
• Customers can pick up a special Give an Hour leaflet in all Crown branches or speak to one of our digital champions in-branch to learn more about getting people online.
• As part of the Post Office's drive to make life easier for customers, especially those without computers, over 750 branches are now using biometric technology. These walk-in booths capture all the information needed to renew driving licences and can even take fingerprints and carry out iris recognition.

Help us pass on the message!

Why not get your friends and family to join in by spreading the word with our e-mail, Facebook and Twitter links on the right hand side of the screen?