Commissioner welcomes new funding to support people to get online
Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Rhian Bowen-Davies, said:
“I welcome the announcement that new funding is being made available to local councils, charities, and community organisations to deliver activities supporting people to get online.
“Support for community-led initiatives to enable people to get online was something I called for in my response to the recent consultation on the UK Government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan, and this funding will provide important opportunities for older people to gain the skills and confidence they need to access information and services via the internet.
“It’s important, however, that this funding is not just provided in the short-term. Many older people have shared how valuable it is to have ongoing, long-term digital support. Once they’ve built confidence and skills, knowing there’s a trusted local place to turn to with questions makes a real difference. Continuity matters and rather than relying on short-term, ever-changing initiatives, there’s a clear need for sustained, consistent support.
“It’s also crucial that older people who may face other barriers to getting online do not find themselves socially excluded or left behind as the ways we communicate and access information and services continue to change.
“So alongside embracing the opportunities offered by the ongoing shift towards digital, high quality offline alternatives – such as telephone helplines or paper versions of documents or forms – must continue to be provided, and we need to see an end to people being essentially penalised for not being online.
“It is important to recognise that digital exclusion is a complex issue that is affected by many factors. Funding for activities to support people to get online is part of the solution, but we also need to see a range of other initiatives, focused in different areas, to ensure that everyone’s rights to access information and services are upheld.”
