On 28 July 2011 Digital Unite received the national Nominet Internet Award for its Silver Surfers’ Day campaign in the category Building a Networked Nation.

The prestigious awards highlight UK companies, charities and individuals that are making a difference on or through the internet and the winners were announced at the London awards ceremony.

Digital Unite’s Silver Surfers’ Day campaign promotes the use of digital technologies by older people and other less confident users by encouraging and supporting local organisations all over the UK to run free taster sessions. Since it began 10 years ago it has successfully helped over 150,000 people engage with computers and the internet.

In May 2011 Silver Surfers’ Day was extended to a week under the banner of Spring Online. Around 2,500 events took place from Pontypridd to Belfast, Edinburgh to Truro and venues included housing associations, hospitals, paper mills, pubs, village halls, libraries, schools, museums and offices. Visit http://www.springonline.org.uk

Emma Solomon, Managing Director of Digital Unite said: “We are absolutely delighted at receiving this Nominet Internet Award and for Silver Surfers’ Day to be recognised in this way. Over the years our campaign has helped tens of thousands of older people understand and start to use computers and the internet. It has been instrumental in helping to break down the digital divide and to tackle the issues of social exclusion and isolation by enabling older people to feel more part of modern society.

“The campaign and its growing success would not have been possible without the tremendous help and support from hundreds of local organisations and individuals. Each year these people throw open their doors and help to change people’s lives as they learn about the wonders of digital technology. Quite simply Silver Surfers’ Day would not have been the same without their active participation and as such we would very much like to share this exciting award with them.”

The Nominet Internet Awards highlights organisations or individuals who have undertaken specific projects which raise internet industry standards and showcase best practice. The entries were reviewed by an independent panel of judges chaired by the Rt Hon Alun Michael MP, and included Will Gardner, CEO of Childnet International, Dr Vicki Nash at the Oxford Internet Institute, Professor Sonia Livingstone from the London School of Economics, Gail Bradbrook from Citizens Online and Graham Walker from Race Online 2012. 

The awards are run in partnership with the Nominet Trust, a body which supports initiatives that contribute to a safe and accessible internet. The Awards highlights projects which are making the internet a secure, open, accessible and diverse experience for all. The winners will be showcased at the next Internet Governance Forum (IGF) meeting in Kenya, and will be held up as key examples of internet innovation from the UK, while bringing together, and improving, the global online community.

For the full list of winners, visit the Nominet Internet Awards website http://www.nominet.org.uk/about/internetawards/2011/?contentId=8557

August 9th, 2011 katharineteed | No Comments »

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