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Empowering older adults: How AbilityNet and BT Group are transforming digital skills
Updated November 2025
AbilityNet and telecommunications company BT Group have been working in partnership since 2023 to help improve the digital skills of older and digitally excluded people across the UK.
Following research* that highlighted that people over 65 are more likely to be digitally excluded and be disabled or have an impairment, AbilityNet and BT Group's Digital Skills project began providing training in regions with the greatest need across the UK.
Learn about the impact of what's been achieved so far in the first few years working together:
Download Partnership so far infographic PDF
Phase two huge successes
During 2024, we expanded our support to also include all disabled adults, as well as older people. Both these groups are more likely to be digitally excluded.
Basic digital skills are now increasingly important for day-to-day life. People who are less familiar with digital devices risk losing access to key services like banking, shopping and health services, as well as apps and platforms that keep people connected.
From August 2024 to August 2025, the partnership helped just shy of 10, 000 new learners, delivering more than ever to improve digital inclusion across the UK through in person and online support, driving greater results and deeper impact:
- 1,981 one-to-one and group in person digital skills sessions
- 15 modules of training created
- 8,416 individual training modules completed
- 8 bitesize videos created
- 3,883 views of bitesize training videos
- 22 webinar sessions covering 17 different topics
- 3,916 webinar attendees
- 3,436 watch backs of webinar sessions
- 65 Digital Voice roadshows staffed
- 1,277 Conversations with older people at roadshows
In Phase 2, we also delivered a series of knowledge-sharing webinars led by the AbilityNet team alongside guest speakers. These sessions enhanced the knowledge and confidence of disabled adults, older people, and those that support these groups.
Access the free webinar recordings:
- Saving money - with the Department for Work and Pensions
- Tech tips for hearing loss
- Travel made easy
- Seasonal scams - with celebrity speaker Linda Robson
Thank you also to our learning partners, u3a and KeyRing - who we collaborated with to deliver digital skills sessions to their members during Phase 2.
Stats about the digital skills gap*
- 1 in 4 UK residents are disabled
- 1 in 5 UK residents are aged over 65
- From the age of 30 disability in England and Wales increases with each older age group
- A predicted 13% of over 60s are offline
- 9 out of 10 of those with ‘very low’ digital skills are over 50
- Disabled people are 35% less likely to have digital skills
- From the age of 30 disability in England and Wales increases with each older age group
*Sources: ONS Census 2021, Lloyds Digital Consumer index 2019 and 2024
Some of the feedback from people we have supported in Phase 2:
- "I understand Facebook, can navigate feeds easier to find what I am looking for. I can now recognise scams.”
- "Excellent training which is definitely required for those not up to speed with the digital world.”
- "It's good to know that there are people that can help when I have any major concerns.”
- "Excellent training which is definitely required for those not up to speed with the digital world.”
- "It's good to know that there are people that can help when I have any major concerns.”
Key highlights of the first phase of the AbilityNet-BT Group partnership
During 2023 and 2024, AbilityNet's expert team of five Digital Skills trainers provided free digital skills training to support older people (65+ years) in London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester, Cardiff and surrounding areas.
*Update September 2025: Locations for support are now London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, the East Coast of Scotland, Stoke, Preston, Brighton & Hove (and Sussex), Newcastle, Cardiff, Swansea and the Brecons, Belfast and surrounding areas.
In Phase 1 of our project (in September 2024 we entered Phase 2), we supported 5063 people, through four different areas of work:
- 2952 supported through 1:1 and group sessions
- 453 supported through live online sessions
- 1540 people watching back our online sessions and Bitesize videos
- 1658 people at Digital Voice Roadshows**
Since attending the sessions:
- 3 in 4 are more confident in tech
- 4 in 5 are mode knowledgeable about tech
- Over 3 in 5 are less isolated
- 3 in 4 are more independent
Throughout the project our volunteers have been key to supporting this work and are continuing to provide vital support during phase 2. During Phase 1 we upskilled 25 BT staff members to support our network of 450+ volunteers. Join us!
“I never knew how to do certain things but now I do Zoom calls, Video calls, Group chats, great session" - Skills session attendee
Celebrity support for boosting digital skills: Sir Geoff Hurst
We teamed up with football World Cup 1966 legend Sir Geoff Hurst to inspire more senior citizens to embrace technology.
He also encouraged older people to participate in our digital skills sessions which are addressing the UK's digital divide by ensuring everyone has the knowledge, resources and confidence to live life in the digital world.
The 82-year-old delighted fans with a surprise visit to a senior walking football team, Bristol City FC, where he helped deliver a session on tackling online safety.
“The digital skills session we attended with BT Group and AbilityNet was hugely valuable. Not only did I learn how to protect myself online, I also discovered how helpful it is to learn as a team and to share our experiences.” - session attendee
Free online webinars open to all
From December 2023 to July 2024 we ran seven free webinar sessions which were open to all and you can watch back the recordings below, covering a range of topics, including:
We also collaborated with U3A (University of the 3rd Age) to support its members via a webinar series. U3A is a “UK-wide collection of 1000+ charities that provide the opportunity for those no longer in work to come together and learn for fun”.
Through the webinars, 329 u3a members were informed about tech topics and 93% of U3A members would recommend the sessions to others.
“Wonderful webinar. Full of ideas and info. Will rewatch, so much to take in. Thank you to all involved." - attendee of the Dementia and Tech webinar
Download the report and infographic:
The above article outlines a summary of the results of the project.
Results are also available as a downloadable PDF report and an infographic, including case studies of some of the individuals supported by the project:
Download Phase 1 infographic PDF
Please get in contact if you require the report in a different format.
Do you know an elderly person or a group of older people or disabled adults who want to know more about using digital devices?Benefit from free Digital Skills sessions now available in London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, the East Coast of Scotland, Stoke, Preston, Brighton & Hove (and Sussex), Newcastle, Cardiff and surrounding areas. Group and individual sessions available.
* 36% of over 65s don’t have foundation digital skills - Lloyds Digital Index, 2023 and 42% of over 65s have a disability - UK disability statistics: Prevalence and life experiences, 2023
** numbers add up to more than 5063 due to some people being supported in more than one way.
How AbilityNet can work with your organisationWorking with partner organisations helps to expand our reach and support as many disabled people and older people as possible.
Could your organisation's workforce volunteer for AbilityNet? Visit our Corporate Social Responsibility page to find out about how businesses help us. You can also order our promotional resources to share with your clients or in your community.