Can you be a Digital Champion and join the Getting Started KIT community to help some of the 70% of people over the age of 65 who are not online, get online?

The digital divide has been laid bare during Covid-19 for all age groups; many children and adults, particularly older adults cannot participate in digital learning or the digital economy either for the lack of skills or access. Over half of Irish people aged between 65 and 74 have never used the internet, locking older people out of a huge range of benefits. It is not for lack of interest either: 30% of Irish households without internet access say the reason is a lack of skills to use it. It is estimated that only 3% of people over the age of 70 have the skills and access to the internet.

The Age Action Getting Started Keep In Touch (KIT) is a national learning initiative to help older people improve their digital literacy skills, so they are more connected, informed and supported particularly during periods of social distancing. The Getting Started KIT will also help people who have digital literacy skills to become Digital Champions – they can use the KIT to tutor someone who needs help. Age Action has created easy How To guides and a video tutorial in order to support older people to learn, use, and be confident about smartphones, other devices and applications.

In the Age Action Getting Started KIT you will find;

• How to… Set up an email account • How to… Download applications • How to… Make WhatsApp video calls • How to… Navigate the internet • How to… Use FaceTime • How to… Use Zoom • How to… Recognise mis-information

The Getting Started KIT also includes a series of video tutorials, presented by Mary Kennedy, which will be hosted on Age Action’s website as well as being broadcast by RTÉ One on Today with Daíthí and Maura. Working with ChangeX through the Community Call Fund we are mobilising Digital Champions - people who will connect with older people on a one-to-one basis via phone to support them to improve their digital literacy skills using the Getting Started KIT materials.

Sign up here to become a Digital Champion and help older people to stay connected and informed during this time.

Please note that this programme is primarily designed to help you support neighbours, relatives or older people that you are already in contact with. Age Action is not in a position to match you with someone but you could volunteer with Age Action and become a formal tutor on the Getting Started programme. You can get in touch by emailing [email protected].