Presentation on Age UK Sutton and Sutton Council's digital strategy and how they are working to increase digital skills. Presented at the Hot Topic event on Building Digital Capability in Bristol on 2 October 2014.

1. Age UK Sutton and London
Borough of Sutton
Digital Tea Party

2. Sutton Council’s Digital Vision
“Maximising the
opportunities brought by
the Digital Age for the
people and
organisations of Sutton”

3. Sutton Council’s Digital Programme
● CRM Moving to dynamics. More call guides
● Internet improved customer experience
● Intranet word press and integration with google apps / the cloud
● Digital Inclusion of people who use services and our workforce
● Service Redesign for channel shift online and cost reduction
● Directories Care Place and SEN Local Offer
● Content Adult Social Care
● Cultural Change Digital Champions Network

4. Digital skills and ICT literacy
Aim to increase the level of digital skills of people and businesses in
Sutton through:
● Facilitating access to learning online, digital support networks and
events e.g. Age UK Digital Tea Party
● Creating a digital buddy network across Sutton especially between
groups e.g. young and older people
● Increasing digital skills of the LB Sutton workforce
● LB Sutton as an exemplar for digital services e.g. video
conferencing with customers

5. Background
● Age UK Sutton, in partnership with Sutton Council, hosted a Digital Tea Party as part of
the borough’s Take Part Take Pride Festival in August 2014.
● Digital Inclusion was identified by the members of One Voice for Age as a priority for older
people in the borough and is one of Age UK Sutton’s objectives under the LB Sutton
Strategic Partner Programme 2014/15.
● Funding received from the Big Lottery has allowed Age UK Sutton to develop a ‘menu’ of
digital services, which is designed to empower learners, teach them the things they want
to learn, at their own pace.

6. The event
● The Digital Tea Party was officially opened by the Mayor and Mayoress of Sutton Council
and we were joined by Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington.
● Older people were given the chance to explore Age UK Sutton’s menu of digital
programme, and try out various digital devices from smartphones, tablets and laptops, as
well as explore the benefits of being online.
● Representatives from EE, Breezie and Barclay’s Digital Eagles were on hand to
showcase their technology and devices, as well as Sutton Libraries, with digital books and
audio books.
● We also held a live Skype demonstration with an Age UK Internet Champion who spoke
about the benefits of using Skype and the internet to keep in touch with friends and
relatives.
● The event was well attended, by over 120 people.

7. Feedback
We received a lot of positive feedback from the
event. One of the attendees said:
“I am responsible for looking after my 92 year old
mother so my time is very limited. I am very keen to
know how I can save time by doing things on the
computer. The people here have been very helpful
and have taught me quite a bit already.”

8. Next steps in our digital strategy
● Commission a more detailed digital strategy in conjunction with schools,
colleges, businesses and the voluntary and community sector.
● Gain commitment of mobile telephony and mobile infrastructure suppliers.
● Determine grant funding available from UK Government and European
Union.
● Events / campaigns to encourage people and businesses to increase their
digital skills e.g. ‘Let’s Get Digital’ event in October hosted by Sutton
Council in partnership with businesses, voluntary and community sector
organisations based in the borough.
● Complete the LB Sutton workforce digital skills audit.