A new high-profile Digital Champion will help promote the Government’s Digital Inclusion agenda, the Minister for Digital Inclusion Paul Murphy announced yesterday , Friday, 24 October 2008.
The creation of an independent Digital Champion is one of the key proposals to achieve greater digital inclusion included within the new cross-Government report ‘Delivering Digital Inclusion: An Action Plan for Consultation‘, which his speech launched.
Around 17 million people in the UK today are excluded from the digital revolution, with no access or experience of the Internet and other digital technologies.
Paul Murphy said: “Technology and the Internet are now woven into the fabric of our society. However, we cannot ignore the fact that those who are socially excluded are much less likely to have access to and benefit from technology.
“Digital inclusion aims to create a fair society and bring social and economic benefits to individuals, communities and the economy as a whole. It is the links between social and technological disadvantage that makes digital inclusion a priority today.
“The post of Digital Champion will be independent of Government, but will work closely with myself as Minister for Digital Inclusion, the Cabinet Committee and the cross-Government Digital Inclusion Team”.
The Digital Champion is just one of more than 70 Government actions listed in the Plan aiming to advance the Government’s Digital Inclusion agenda.
Paul Murphy said:
“This Action Plan shows that the Government is taking the lead. We want to bring people together from industry and the voluntary sectors, as well as from across Government, so that we can work together and make more impact with the money we’re spending. This Action Plan is an important step to achieve greater co-ordination and co-operation on this important agenda.
“And we are already taking action. You will know that the Department for Children, Schools and Families recently announced its Home Access programme. A fundamental part of the Digital Inclusion Action Plan, the home access programme will target those one million children in England who currently do not have access to a computer or internet connectivity at home, starting with pilots in Oldham and Suffolk.
To support the Action Plan, Communities and Local Government will be publishing new research and resources to help councils and communities deliver digital inclusion initiatives on the ground as well as moving forward with their plans for the Digital Mentors scheme, laid out in the Empowerment White Paper. This group of people will work to support and empower communities, in the UK’s most deprived areas, enabling them to engage with digital technology and media.
More Information
Delivering Digital Inclusion: An Action Plan for Consultation is available at www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/deliveringdigitalinclusion .
New resources are being launched today and can be found at www.communities.gov.uk/communities/digitalinclusion .
Developing a National Network of ‘Digital Mentors’: Following the commitment in Communities in Control: Real People, Real Power, Communities and Local Government is inviting formal expressions of interest from organisations willing to work to develop the network of ‘Digital Mentors’ in deprived communities in England. For more information visit Digital Mentors.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1002199
Filed under: National Stuff | Tagged: Digital Champion, Digital Inclusion, Paul Murphy
