Landlords across the UK are being urged to take part in the United Kingdom’s largest digital campaign. The Government have backed the ‘Spring Online with Silver Surfers’ Day’ which hopes to give older and less confident people a taste of computers and the internet and how they can make life easier.
It is thought that over seven million older people in the United Kingdom have never even used the internet. The campaign has been going a number of years and has so far helped around 150,000 older people get more out of life online. Social housing providers, and private landlords who between them have hundreds of thousands of properties that they protect with buy to let insurance, have been urged to play their part to help tenants get a taste of the internet during next month’s campaign.
Emma Solomon, Managing Director of Digital Unite, says: “Access to computers and the internet can enhance people’s health and well-being and open up whole new worlds. If you know your way round a computer, why not volunteer to show someone else how to do it. Often, all people need is someone to get them started, show them the basics and make it fun. A lot of older people are scared of the internet. Attending a Spring Online session can really help to show there is nothing to be scared of.”
There are still a staggering 8.2 million people in the United Kingdom who are yet to experience how good the internet really is. Saving money, keeping in touch with others which will reduce their feelings of isolation are just two examples of how the World Wide Web could make the life of an older person better. Initiatives like Spring Online will highlight these benefits and hopefully go another step toward achieving the ambition of creating a truly networked United Kingdom.