A digital trial starting tomorrow aims to help Islington residents feel part of the community and avoid social exclusion.
Islington Council will offer free 4G tablets and internet training for residents who are likely to be excluded by technology. With internet access being the main way to hear about council services and search for jobs, the council are hoping the plan will prevent pensioners and those on working-age benefits from being isolated.
Councillor Andy Hull, Islington Council’s executive member for finance, performance and community safety, said ‘The vast majority of Islington residents are already online, but some groups have much lower levels of internet access. This is a concern in an age when so much of what we do every day relies on being connected’.
The strategy arose out of the results of the 2015 Islington annual residents’ survey which showed that the digital divide locally was similar to that in the rest of the UK with low-income families being some of the worst affected.
It is a 12 month trial beginning tomorrow starting with 30 tablets, followed by a later 70.
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HeadlineFree 4G tablets for the digitally excluded
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A digital trial starting tomorrow aims to help Islington residents feel part of the community and avoid social exclusion.
Islington Council will offer free 4G tablets and internet training for residents who are likely to be excluded by technology. With internet access being the main way to hear about council services and search for jobs, the council are hoping the plan will prevent pensioners and those on working-age benefits from being isolated.
Councillor Andy Hull, Islington Council’s executive member for finance, performance and community safety, said ‘The vast majority of Islington residents are already online, but some groups have much lower levels of internet access. This is a concern in an age when so much of what we do every day relies on being connected’.
The strategy arose out of the results of the 2015 Islington annual residents’ survey which showed that the digital divide locally was similar to that in the rest of the UK with low-income families being some of the worst affected.
It is a 12 month trial beginning tomorrow starting with 30 tablets, followed by a later 70.
