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One of Digital Unite’s most recent and successful sponsored schemes was a partnership with the communications company http://www.virginmedia.com/" href="http://www.virginmedia.com/">Virgin Media.
Virgin Media chose to work with Digital Unite to collectively improve digital literacy amongst older people in the UK. Our joint aim was to help reverse current figures which show an estimated 10 million over 50s are unsure about how to use the internet.
How it worked…
- The deal formed part of Virgin Media’s ‘Power to All People’ project and was launched at 17 sheltered housing schemes throughout the UK.
- Virgin Media installed free computers, printers and a fibre optic broadband internet connection, while Digital Unite provided a full training programme, including sustainability planning, to help keep the learning alive.
Over 200 older people and staff took part, and the results were amazing:
- A wonderful 99% of learners said they had learnt from the course
- 71% said they would continue to use a computer and the Internet.
- 97% of learners described their Tutor as “Excellent” or “Good.”
For any learner demographic, this is a great result. For an older group, half of whom had never used a computer, it’s phenomenal. And it didn’t just work well for the users, it worked for Virgin Media too….
The scheme generated lots of regional media coverage, such as this http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/boost-elderly-residents/article-406367-detail/article.html" href="http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/boost-elderly-residents/article-406367-detail/article.html">one in Nottingham.
One of the schemes was short listed for a National ” Best Practice in the Community” Award
Stuart Poore, director of corporate responsibility at Virgin Media said: “It was always our goal to help empower those without the skills or resources to use and enjoy the web and we are delighted that so many people have benefited from this scheme In such a positive way.”
About Virgin Media
With almost 10 million customers, Virgin Media is the UK’s first quad-play provider of TV, broadband, phone and mobile.
Virgin Media is the largest residential broadband provider in the country, delivering next-generation internet access with ultrafast speeds of up to 50Mb using its unique fibre-optic cable network.
Virgin Media has the UK’s most advanced TV on demand service and is the only TV platform to carry BBC iPlayer. Virgin Media was the first to launch a high definition TV service and offers a high-specification, HD-ready V+ personal video recorder.
Virgin Media is the second-largest provider of pay TV and home phone in the UK and the largest virtual mobile network operator.
Virgin Media also owns two content businesses – Virgin Media Television (VMTV) and sit-up. VMTV owns eight entertainment channels, including Virgin1, Living, Bravo, Challenge and Trouble – and is a 50 per cent joint partner with the BBC in UKTV which consists of ten channels including Dave, G.O.L.D., Watch and Alibi. sit-up runs retail TV channels bid tv, price-drop tv and speed auction tv.
For more information, go to http://www.virginmedia.com/" href="http://www.virginmedia.com/">http://www.virginmedia.com.
