Helping older people get online

We're helping more older people make the most of the digital world through programmes that increase skills and confidence. 

Why digital skills matter

1. Nearly two million over 75s in England are digitally excluded. 
2. 2 out of 5 over 75s don't use the internet at all. 
3. Perhaps suprisingly, the coronavirus pandemic has not prompted more older people to get online.
4. Older people who are without digital skills risk losing access to key services such as banking, shopping and health services, as well communications platforms that keep people connected. 
5. 79% of older people who would like to use the internet more say a lack of skills is the thing holding them back.

Our approach: Digital Champions

A Digital Champion is someone who is trained and supported to inspire others to get online and can spend time showing them how.

They provide services ranging from 1:1 support in older people’s homes and IT drop in sessions through to larger scale community events - simple things that can make a big difference to people who can’t or don’t use the internet.

Digital Champions come from a range of different backgrounds and have varying levels of digital experience themselves, from IT professionals to people who are ‘newly converted’ to digital technology and want to share their enthusiasm. They may be staff and volunteers from local Age UKs, employees at local businesses or local community organisations or just other older people themselves.

They all receive structured training, support and resources in order to motivate and support others. What they have in common is that they want to volunteer to engage, support and encourage older people to develop their digital skills and confidence.

Current programmes

Past programmes

One Digital

Through One Digital, Age UK helped over 18,000 older people to understand the benefits of getting online, and provided them with the opportunity to build their digital skills and have the confidence to live an included and independent life. Learn more.

Still to come

Vodafone - Connected Age

We have been awarded £250,000 from Vodafone to deliver a Digital Champion programme and tablet loan scheme with local Age UKs. Through this, we're aiming to increase older people's confidence, independence and access to information, and reduce isolation. We'll share more information on this exciting work shortly.