What is a UK online centre?

Whoever you are, whatever you want to do UK online will help you get on. UK online centres are for people who have limited or no access to skills in using new technologies. The centres will help people to develop the skills to use the Internet to access information, send email using a PC, mobile phone, digital television or games console; (please note not all centres will have the same facilities), and explore the opportunities that new technologies offer such as for further learning and updating skills.

The UK online centres are based in communities and will enable everyone in England, who wants it, to have access to the Internet and e-mail near to where they live. It could be in an Internet Café on the High St, in a public library, in a college, in a community centre, a village, a mobile centre, or anywhere available to the public. They have been designed to meet the needs of local people who have low or no ICT skills or access to Information, Communication Technology (ICTs).

The world of communication, information and e-commerce that the Internet offers is the world of the future, and it is open to you. This is a promise made by UK online - a major government initiative that makes sure that everyone has access to the Internet.

As well as providing access to the Internet and email, support from staff in the centres will be on hand to help people to explore opportunities for further learning through ICTs.

The Prime Minister announced in September 2000 that there would be 6000 UK online centres including in all public libraries in England by the end of 2002. Speaking at the International e-summit in London the Prime Minister announced that we have achieved that goal six weeks ahead of our target date and the centres are now enabling people to get access to PCs and the information they need in the knowledge economy. Also speaking at the International e-summit, Minister for Adult Skills and Learning, Ivan Lewis, said: “Everyone in England should be able to find a UK online centre near to their home. 2,000 are in public libraries and the rest are located to provide easy access for all. One of our main aims is to reach people in disadvantaged communities by providing low or no cost information and communications technology (ICT) services. We want to encourage them into learning and updating their skills. “UK online centres target people with little or no ICT skills. Centres range from voluntary and community centres - including mobile centres, to libraries, colleges and high street cyber-cafés. Around 500 online centres are also University for Industry (Ufi) learndirect centres which we have set up to stimulate much longer term lifelong learning via ICT.”

You can find out more by accessing the websites www.ukonline.gov.uk or www.dfes.gov.uk/ukonlinecentres. For further information on learning you can ring learndirect on 0800 100 900 or visit the website www.learndirect.co.uk