Social Inclusion in the Internet Age

SCIP Digital Inclusion Fringe Event, Labour Party Conference

Organised by SCIP, UK Online and Wired Sussex. Sponsored by NixonMcinnes

Digital inclusion and digital engagement are the lastest buzzwords for ministers, policy-makers and consultants in the public, private and third sectors. But what exactly is the goal? Who's doing it? And how does it connect with existing work in delivering social inclusion?

SCIP is hosting a Fringe event at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton to bring together policy-makers and practitioners to look at where we are now and how we can move ahead.

The speakers will be:

Graham Walker, Director Strategy, Office of Digital Champion

Tom Watson, MP

Helen Milner, MD of UK Online

Mark Walker, SCIP and ICT Champion for the third sector in the South East

To some people digital inclusion means designing websites for people with disabilities. Others want to help disadvantaged people access new opportunities for work, training or leisure, to tackle isolation and social and economic deprivation. The Government's concern centres on increasing the use of Government services on the web, both to help improve services and to save money.

What is agreed is that not everyone is sharing the potential benefits of the internet age. As many as 25% of UK adults have not used the internet, whether through lack of opportunity, lack of resources, or simply because they don't want to.

A new Digital Inclusion Champion has now been appointed, hot on the heels of the creation of a Minister for Digital Inclusion - a post that has been around long enough to be on its second incumbent.

But what lies at the root of this issue? What makes it such an important target for Government? And what does it look like in the communities we're trying to reach?

The session will be chaired by Will McInnes of NixonMcInnes

Wine and snacks will be served.