Digital Champion Programme – One week left to submit funding applications

A quick reminder that funding applications for our Digital Champion Programme are open until midday on May 4th 2022. Find out all the details on how to apply.

This is a quick reminder that applications for the Digital Champion funding opportunity are live until 12pm on 4th May 2022. Click here to find out more, including how to apply. Please note: The end date for Cohort 1 of this programme is 30th November 2023, not December 2023 as originally stated in some of the supporting documents provided on the loop. These documents have now been updated to reflect this.

About the Programme

The Digital Champion programme will support local brand partners to deliver digital inclusion services with older people in areas of high digital exclusion across England and Wales, and to transform the delivery of digital skills support to ensure that we can reach and support those people that need it most. The programme will involve local brand partners recruiting and training volunteer Digital Champions; delivering awareness raising activities to motivate and inspire older people to get involved; provide technology on a loan basis to older people without access; and deliver skills support sessions to improve the confidence and skills of older people so that they can benefit from being online.

Supporting older people most at risk of digital exclusion

As part of this programme, we will also support local brand partners who want to focus their delivery on supporting a high-risk group to get online. Whilst the core elements of the programme will largely remain the same, adaptations will likely need to be made to the programme model, and expectations will be amended to reflect the higher intensity support that will be required. By focussing some of the delivery of this programme on supporting high-risk groups, we will reach those older people most in need, and gain a better understanding about how the service works, and to guide service development to ensure it remains as impactful and accessible as possible.

Next Steps

The Digital Champion Programme will be delivered across two cohorts of 25 partners, with cohort 1 (this opportunity) commencing in June 2022, and cohort 2 in March 2024. Each partner will receive up to £72,000 over 18 months to deliver the programme in their local area, including set-up time.

Please note: the funding and delivery period remains the same for partners who apply to deliver the programme with older people generally, and for those who apply to focus their delivery on a high-risk group. Expected reach will differ accordingly.

For more information on this opportunity and to apply, please click below:

This funding opportunity closes 12pm 4th May 2022.

If you have any questions about this new opportunity, please get in touch with servicesdigital@ageuk.org.uk. If you are having trouble accessing the link above, please contact theloop@ageuk.org.uk.

Reminder: Digital Champion Programme – Funding Applications now open!

A quick reminder that funding applications for our Digital Champion Programme are open until midday on May 4th 2022. Find out all the details on how to apply.

This is a quick reminder that applications for the Digital Champion funding opportunity are live until 12pm on 4th May 2022. The programme will support local brand partners to deliver digital inclusion services in areas of high digital exclusion across England and Wales, and to transform the delivery of digital skills support so that we can reach and support those people that need it most. Read on to find out more, including how to apply.

Although the number of older people who are digitally connected continues to rise, there are still around 5 million people over the age of 55 who are not online. We live in an increasingly online world, with many key services moving to become ‘digital first’, and while many older people have embraced digital technology, there are others who are less confident who are at risk of being left behind.

About the Programme

The Digital Champion programme will support local brand partners to deliver digital inclusion services with older people in areas of high digital exclusion across England and Wales, and to transform the delivery of digital skills support to ensure that we can reach and support those people that need it most. The programme will involve local brand partners recruiting and training volunteer Digital Champions; delivering awareness raising activities to motivate and inspire older people to get involved; provide technology on a loan basis to older people without access; and deliver skills support sessions to improve the confidence and skills of older people so that they can benefit from being online.

Supporting older people most at risk of digital exclusion

As part of this programme, we will also support local brand partners who want to focus their delivery on supporting a high-risk group to get online. Whilst the core elements of the programme will largely remain the same, adaptations will likely need to be made to the programme model, and expectations will be amended to reflect the higher intensity support that will be required. By focussing some of the delivery of this programme on supporting high-risk groups, we will reach those older people most in need, and gain a better understanding about how the service works, and to guide service development to ensure it remains as impactful and accessible as possible.

Next Steps

The Digital Champion Programme will be delivered across two cohorts of 25 partners, with cohort 1 (this opportunity) commencing in June 2022, and cohort 2 in March 2024. Each partner will receive up to £72,000 over 18 months to deliver the programme in their local area, including set-up time.

Please note: the funding and delivery period remains the same for partners who apply to deliver the programme with older people generally, and for those who apply to focus their delivery on a high-risk group. Expected reach will differ accordingly.

For more information on this opportunity and to apply, please click below:

This funding opportunity closes 12pm 4th May 2022.

If you have any questions about this new opportunity, please get in touch with servicesdigital@ageuk.org.uk. If you are having trouble accessing the link above, please contact theloop@ageuk.org.uk.

New Digital Inclusion Funding Opportunity – Applications now open!

Funding applications for our new Digital Champion Programme are now open until midday on May 4th 2022. Find out all the details on how to apply.

We recently messaged to announce a new funding opportunity to take part in our upcoming Digital Champion programme. We’re pleased to announce that this funding opportunity is now live until 12pm on 4th May 2022. The Digital Champion programme will support local brand partners to deliver digital inclusion services in areas of high digital exclusion across England and Wales, and to transform the delivery of digital skills support so that we can reach and support those people that need it most. Read on to find out more, including how to apply.

Although the number of older people who are digitally connected continues to rise, there are still around 5 million people over the age of 55 who are not online. We live in an increasingly online world, with many key services moving to become ‘digital first’, and while many older people have embraced digital technology, there are others who are less confident who are at risk of being left behind.

About the Programme

The Digital Champion programme will support local brand partners to deliver digital inclusion services with older people in areas of high digital exclusion across England and Wales, and to transform the delivery of digital skills support to ensure that we can reach and support those people that need it most. The programme will involve local brand partners recruiting and training volunteer Digital Champions; delivering awareness raising activities to motivate and inspire older people to get involved; provide technology on a loan basis to older people without access; and deliver skills support sessions to improve the confidence and skills of older people so that they can benefit from being online.

Supporting older people most at risk of digital exclusion

As part of this programme, we will also support local brand partners who want to focus their delivery on supporting a high-risk group to get online. Whilst the core elements of the programme will largely remain the same, adaptations will likely need to be made to the programme model, and expectations will be amended to reflect the higher intensity support that will be required. By focussing some of the delivery of this programme on supporting high-risk groups, we will reach those older people most in need, and gain a better understanding about how the service works, and to guide service development to ensure it remains as impactful and accessible as possible.

Next Steps

The Digital Champion Programme will be delivered across two cohorts of 25 partners, with cohort 1 (this opportunity) commencing in June 2022, and cohort 2 in March 2024. Each partner will receive up to £72,000 over 18 months to deliver the programme in their local area, including set-up time.

Please note: the funding and delivery period remains the same for partners who apply to deliver the programme with older people generally, and for those who apply to focus their delivery on a high-risk group. Expected reach will differ accordingly.

For more information on this opportunity and to apply, please click below:

This funding opportunity closes 12pm 4th May 2022.

If you have any questions about this new opportunity, please get in touch with servicesdigital@ageuk.org.uk. If you are having trouble accessing the link above, please contact theloop@ageuk.org.uk.

Still time to apply for Digital Inclusion Funding Opportunities

A final reminder that we have three exciting digital inclusion funding opportunities still open for applications, with two Tablet Loan Schemes and a Digital Champions programme now live. Find all the details here.

There is still time to apply for our three new funding opportunities for upcoming digital inclusion programmes before the closing time of 12pm Wednesday 29th September. The funding opportunities include two Tablet Loan Schemes funded by Dixons Carphone and Vodafone respectively, along with a Digital Champions programme also funded by Vodafone. The Dixons Carphone funding is available to Brand Partners in England and both Vodafone opportunities are available for Partners in England and Wales. Read on to find out more, including how to apply.

Although the number of older people who are digitally connected continues to rise, there are still around 5 million people over the age of 55 who are not online. We live in an increasingly online world, with many key services moving to become ‘digital first’, and while many older people have embraced digital technology, there are others who are less confident who are at risk of being left behind. Digital inclusion is about making sure that people have the capability to use the internet to do things that benefit them day-to-day. It is defined in terms of digital skills, digital connectivity and digital accessibility. These new programme opportunities will each address the different aspects of digital inclusion.

Tablet Loan Schemes

We have two Tablet Loan Scheme funding opportunities available, funded by Dixons Carphone and Vodafone respectively. These programme opportunities will begin delivery in November 2021, and will provide participating partners with gifted technology to support the delivery of a Tablet Loan Scheme locally, as well as a small grant to support the coordination of delivery and collection and sharing of programme data. The two funding opportunities differ in terms of the delivery period and the partners they are available to, so please do read the relevant Programme Guidance available on the Loop before applying to ensure your organisation are eligible.

For more information on these opportunities, please click below:

These funding opportunities close on 12pm Wednesday 29th September.

Digital Champion Programme

We also have a new funding opportunity for partners in England and Wales to apply for funding to support the delivery of a six-month Digital Champion programme in their area, recruiting and training staff and volunteer Digital Champions to inspire older people to get online, and spend some time showing them how. This programme is funded by Vodafone and will begin delivery in November 2021.

For more information on this opportunity, please click here.

This funding opportunity closes 12pm Wednesday 29th September.

Contact

If you have any questions about any of these new opportunities, please get in touch with servicesdigital@ageuk.org.uk

Updated guidance for Vodafone Digital Champion funding opportunity

The Programme Guidance for the Vodafone Digital Champion funding has been updated, find full details here.

Following on from yesterday’s digital inclusion funding reminder, we have updated the guidance for the Vodafone Digital Champion programme to make clear that the programme activities and staff roles, are guidance only. The guidance details a model we have found to work well, but partners are welcome to submit applications with alternative ways of achieving the outcomes. All changes made to the guidance are highlighted in blue. For more information on this opportunity, and to view the guidance, please click here.

Please note: This funding opportunity closes 12pm Wednesday 29thSeptember.

If you have any questions about the guidance or the opportunity, please get in touch with servicesdigital@ageuk.org.uk

Two weeks left to apply for Digital Inclusion Funding Opportunities

We have three exciting digital inclusion funding opportunities still open for applications, with two Tablet Loan Schemes and a Digital Champions programme now live. Find all the details here.

There is still time to apply for our three new funding opportunities for upcoming digital inclusion programmes. This includes two Tablet Loan Schemes funded by Dixons Carphone and Vodafone respectively, along with a Digital Champions programme also funded by Vodafone. The Dixons Carphone funding is available to Brand Partners in England and both Vodafone opportunities are available for Partners in England and Wales. All three funding opportunities close on 12pm Wednesday 29th September, read on to find out more, including how to apply.

Although the number of older people who are digitally connected continues to rise, there are still around 5 million people over the age of 55 who are not online. We live in an increasingly online world, with many key services moving to become ‘digital first’, and while many older people have embraced digital technology, there are others who are less confident who are at risk of being left behind. Digital inclusion is about making sure that people have the capability to use the internet to do things that benefit them day-to-day. It is defined in terms of digital skills, digital connectivity and digital accessibility. These new programme opportunities will each address the different aspects of digital inclusion.

Tablet Loan Schemes

We have two Tablet Loan Scheme funding opportunities available, funded by Dixons Carphone and Vodafone respectively. These programme opportunities will begin delivery in November 2021, and will provide participating partners with gifted technology to support the delivery of a Tablet Loan Scheme locally, as well as a small grant to support the coordination of delivery and collection and sharing of programme data. The two funding opportunities differ in terms of the delivery period and the partners they are available to, so please do read the relevant Programme Guidance available on the Loop before applying to ensure your organisation are eligible.

For more information on these opportunities, please click below:

These funding opportunities close on 12pm Wednesday 29th September.

Digital Champion Programme

We also have a new funding opportunity for partners in England and Wales to apply for funding to support the delivery of a six-month Digital Champion programme in their area, recruiting and training staff and volunteer Digital Champions to inspire older people to get online, and spend some time showing them how. This programme is funded by Vodafone and will begin delivery in November 2021.

For more information on this opportunity, please click here.

This funding opportunity closes 12pm Wednesday 29th September.

Contact

If you have any questions about any of these new opportunities, please get in touch with servicesdigital@ageuk.org.uk

Three new Digital Inclusion Funding Opportunities now live

We have three exciting digital inclusion funding opportunities to share, with two Tablet Loan Schemes and a Digital Champions programme now live. Find all the details here.

We are pleased to announce three new funding opportunities to take part in upcoming digital inclusion programmes. This includes two Tablet Loan Schemes funded by Dixons Carphone and Vodafone respectively, along with a Digital Champions programme also funded by Vodafone. The Dixons Carphone funding is available to Brand Partners in England and both Vodafone opportunities are available for Partners in England and Wales. All three funding opportunities close on 12pm Wednesday 29th September, read on to find out more, including how to apply.

Although the number of older people who are digitally connected continues to rise, there are still around 5 million people over the age of 55 who are not online. We live in an increasingly online world, with many key services moving to become ‘digital first’, and while many older people have embraced digital technology, there are others who are less confident who are at risk of being left behind. Digital inclusion is about making sure that people have the capability to use the internet to do things that benefit them day-to-day. It is defined in terms of digital skills, digital connectivity and digital accessibility. These new programme opportunities will each address the different aspects of digital inclusion.

Tablet Loan Schemes

We have two Tablet Loan Scheme funding opportunities available, funded by Dixons Carphone and Vodafone respectively. These programme opportunities will begin delivery in November 2021, and will provide participating partners with gifted technology to support the delivery of a Tablet Loan Scheme locally, as well as a small grant to support the coordination of delivery and collection and sharing of programme data. The two funding opportunities differ in terms of the delivery period and the partners they are available to, so please do read the relevant Programme Guidance available on the Loop before applying to ensure your organisation are eligible.

For more information on these opportunities, please click below:

These funding opportunities close on 12pm Wednesday 29th September.

Digital Champion Programme

We also have a new funding opportunity for partners in England and Wales to apply for funding to support the delivery of a six-month Digital Champion programme in their area, recruiting and training staff and volunteer Digital Champions to inspire older people to get online, and spend some time showing them how. This programme is funded by Vodafone and will begin delivery in November 2021.

For more information on this opportunity, please click here.

This funding opportunity closes 12pm Wednesday 29th September.

Contact

If you have any questions about any of these new opportunities, please get in touch with servicesdigital@ageuk.org.uk

Think Digital Programme – Phase 2 Evaluation Report

The evaluation report from the second stage of the Think Digital Programme is now available for you to download.

We’re pleased to publish the Think Digital Phase 2 Evaluation Report, written by Imogen Blood Associates. This second stage of the Santander-funded digital inclusion programme saw the continued delivery of the Digital Champion remote digital support programme with five local Age UK/Age Cymrus. This evaluation looked at the long-term ways in which engagement with the programme impacted an older person’s day-to-day life, and whether it facilitate their continued use of digital.

You can read the full reports and executive summaries of both Phase 1 and Phase 2 on the Think Digital page here. If you have any questions about this programme or the report specifically please get in touch with servicesdigital@ageuk.org.uk

Think Digital webpage and Phase 1 executive summary now live

The Think Digital Programme now has a dedicated webpage on the Age UK website with infographics, testimonials, and executive summary and more!

Funded by Santander, the Think Digital Programme was set up in 2020 to engage, inspire, and support people aged 50 and over to develop their digital skills. Age UK have been working with five local Age UK and Age Cymru partners (Age Cymru Dyfed, Age Cymru Gwent, Age UK Blackburn with Darwen, Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland, and Age UK South Lakeland). Each partner recruited, trained and supported Digital Champions to raise awareness about the benefits of digital, and to provide 1:1 support to older people at risk of digital exclusion in their community.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the delivery model was redesigned to a mainly remote model, which led to some great learnings! Please check out the brand new Think Digital webpage on the Age UK website – which includes detail on the project, infographics, testimonials, and the Phase 1 report and executive summary available at the bottom of the page.