Fox praises Barnsley Council over digital inclusion

Martha Lane Fox, the government’s Digital Inclusion Champion, has praised Barnsley Council over its digital inclusion programme, which is proving a great success with its residents.

Barnsley Council has recent received praise from the government’s Digital Inclusion Champion, Martha Lane Fox, as a result of its digital inclusion programme, which has helped many of its residents to gain access to digital information. The council has been dubbed one of the leading local authorities to take on board the digital inclusion programme, and has embraced the programme through a number of different initiatives.

Fox was visiting Barnsley for the launch of Get Online Day, and she spoke very highly of the initiatives that had been put in place by the council and the way in which they had engaged residents in digital activities. Fox has spoken out publicly a number of times regarding how people can benefit from access to broadband and digital services. She said: “Barnsley really is embracing the digital inclusion agenda with the launch of these initiatives.”

Fox added: “In the UK one in every four people still don’t use the internet and unfortunately it’s the people facing the toughest times who could actually benefit the most from what technology has to offer – from saving money to finding information that could make their lives easier and cheaper.” She also said: “Barnsley is a fantastic example of how communities can benefit from being online and has clearly demonstrated that through innovation, forward thinking and engaging in good public-private partnerships, the goals of digital inclusion can be achieved.”

An official from Barnsley Council said: “It’s a case of making technology readily available and educating people so that they understand what the internet can offer them. Plus by providing support and training this will give individuals the confidence and skills needed to help navigate the digital world.”

Source – 24 Dash