The e-Learning project (Birmingham Case Study)

The Digital Unite, Sheltered Housing Scheme project (Photo by Holly Grange – Birmingham)

Virgin Media has provided over 400 children across five UK cities with free home internet.

Digital inclusion

The digital world can make a significant difference to people’s lives but unfortunately not everyone is able to gain access to it either due to lack of money or lack of understanding. That’s why Virgin Media is addressing the problems around digital inclusion and literacy. In 2008 it launched two projects – one targeted at kids, the other at the elderly – which helped to generate greater access to its products in disadvantaged communities.

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It teamed up with the e-Learning Foundation to provide children with free home access to the internet . Those that have taken part are demonstrating the educational value of online access. It has also worked with UK online centres to provide a support package for the parents of the children involved, to help them take advantage of being online at home and to enable them to support their children’s learning and ensure their safety whilst online.

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Frail (or blind or disabled if shown) pedestrians likely to cross road ahead

Virgin Media’s other project involved working with Digital Unite, an organisation that helps older people get online, and as part of this scheme provided 17 sheltered housing projects with a ‘get online’ package . The package contained two computers per scheme, software and accessories, plus a seven week training programme delivered by Digital Unite. Virgin Media received great feedback from residents at the sheltered housing schemes, with 71% of participants saying they’d continue to use a computer and the internet.

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Pedestrians in road ahead

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Available width of headroom indicated

Technology is wonderful – when it works, but extremely frustrating when it doesn’t . Virgin Digital Help’s aim is to revolutionise the way British consumers solve any digital problems using a combination of downloadable tools, online and phone support and home visits . This will help people to get the most from digital technology and supports digital inclusion.

A third of the British population say that digital stuff has caused them real stress, with 78% having shouted at their technology, 21% having thrown gadgets against the wall, and 14% having even punched technology.

Carbon

Virgin Media’s greatest environmental impact is the carbon emissions generated by powering its network and operations. In 2008 Virgin Media managed to reduce its carbon footprint by 3% through a variety of initiatives including; a national ‘switch-off’ campaign, consolidating sites and technical equipment, a 20% efficiency improvement in air-conditioning and improved office infrastructure.

It has committed to an initial CO2 reduction target of 15% below its 2007/08 baseline by 2015. Ownership of this target has been given to its Carbon Management Group which is made up of representatives from across the business functions. Virgin Media has signed up to the voluntary EU code of conduct for digital TV systems which sets maximum power consumption and advanced features such as auto-standby.

Virgin Digital Help launched in December 2009.

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In 2008 it provided

just under 200 people in 17 sheltered housing schemes with a ‘get online’ package. Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88