Helping people get online
Not being able to use the internet is called being 'digitally excluded'. It is a serious problem: for example, you would not be able to access lots of online job opportunities, training programmes, government services, or cheaper shopping deals.
How do people become digitally excluded?
People can become digitally excluded (unable to use the internet) for many reasons.
It is often a mix of:
- being unable to afford the equipment or cost of setting up the internet in their home
- not being able to access training
- not knowing the benefits of the internet
One in 10 Londoners is digitally excluded.
What are we doing to help?
One of the Mayor’s recovery missions is to enable every Londoner to have access to good connectivity, basic digital skills and the device or support they need to be online by 2025.
This means working in partnership with communities, boroughs, businesses, skills providers and the voluntary sector to address the challenge of digital exclusion in the capital.
Find out more about the problem this work is trying to address.
Our Digital Inclusion Strategy explains the facts about London and digital exclusion. It:
- identifies the barriers people face in getting online
- provides an overview of the current activity in this area
- highlights how the Mayor will work with partners to address this issue
Helpful resources for you:
Digital Skills: for lots of useful digital guides made available for free
Good Things Foundation: for courses to help you get online easily and develop your skills. You can find centres in London offering help using their map tool.
Excel easy: a free, easy to follow, fully illustrated Excel tutorial with more than 300 examples.
The Skills Toolkit: free online courses and resources to support users develop their digital and numeracy skills. Collated by The Department for Education.
Findcourses.co.uk: more than 2000 training providers and courses, including vocational courses, apprenticeships, CPD training and courses to develop skills and hobbies, with many delivered online.
Learn My Way: free online courses for beginners in digital skills.
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