Bridging digital media literacy gaps in Birmingham

Annie Mannion | 12 Sep 2024
Group of people looking at laptops in care home setting“Our residents are now less scared of their devices and more confident to complete simple tasks by themselves.” - Vicki, Activity and Volunteer Organiser at ExtraCare Pannel Croft

 

Ofcom, the UK government's communications regulator, commissioned AbilityNet as part of a project to enhance media literacy skills among disabled individuals and older people in Birmingham.

The broader Ofcom project involved AbilityNet and 12 other organisations across the UK. Ofcom released its report this week which outlines the results of the 14-month initiative to improve media literacy skills within targeted groups in the UK.

Contact AbilityNet if you are disabled or a senior citizen and need support with your digital devices - call our helpline on 0300 180 0028 or request help from an AbilityNet volunteer.

How AbilityNet helped

Prior partnership projects and digital exclusion research had identified the lack of confidence and skills amongst the residents of ExtraCare retirement villages, with 65% surveyed noting a lack of confidence with technology and 59% of staff asked to support with tech at least once a week.

To help boost digital skills confidence with the residents, AbilityNet developed and delivered three training modules to residents across seven different residential villages and resource centres in the Birmingham area.

Residents completed three sessions:

  • a gentle and basic ‘Introduction to technology’ session
  • a scam awareness session
  • a session aimed at achieving at least one new digital skill

The training project aimed to upskill 200 residents across 45 group sessions, providing 30 devices and connectivity to those in need, and including using the skills of local volunteer teams.

“I was really lucky to be gifted a device from AbilityNet. Before AbilityNet I was really struggling, so didn't use it (my phone) too often. I really wanted to play games, jigsaw puzzles and listen to my music, which I am now able to do on my own. The sessions I attended were useful to learn something new” - Pannel Croft Resident

A group of Birmingham City Council employees who work at the city's older people's resource centres, alongside staff members from the residential villages, also attended three online interactive staff training sessions to help embed digital skills further.

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Join our free webinar with our expert Digital Skills trainer Lucy Walsh, who will share 5 key apps and online tools that older people tell us make their lives easier. We'll also share top tips for connecting and staying safer online if you are older person or a disabled adult, and outline the free resources available via AbilityNet to help with navigating the digital world.
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An overwhelming success

As a result of the digital skills training sessions provided, an impressive 98% of residents reported feeling more knowledgeable about technology after completing the sessions. In addition, 85% rated their ability to use digital devices as average, good or excellent after sessions, and 97% rated their ability to stay safer online as average, good or excellent after sessions (versus only 46% pre the sessions).

This collaborative effort involved multiple organisations and charities addressing the challenges faced by their beneficiaries.

In summary, the Ofcom commissioned project has proven to be overwhelmingly successful, achieving seven out of eight of its outcome targets in providing vital media literacy skills that enable disabled people to thrive in the evermore essential digital world.

However, consistent funding and government support are essential to address the significant need for media literacy training nationwide. Without these resources, only a fraction of the problem can be addressed.

"ExtraCare and the team at AbilityNet came together with the same goal and focus, and that was for our residents to become more comfortable with technology.” - Kerry Stack, ExtraCare’s Research and Technology Lead

View a summary of AbilityNet's project and download a detailed PDF report of the work undertaken in Birmingham to boost digital media literacy skills:

Download AbilityNet's report

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Further resources