This document summarizes several digital inclusion projects and their impacts. It discusses using Skype in care homes to allow residents to communicate with family and friends, which required identifying interested residents, organizing sessions, and conducting regular reviews. It also notes how a lack of training and confidence among employees can undermine beliefs that older or younger people would not be interested in technology. Further, it provides an example of the weekly contacts a support organization has with various medical professionals and care workers. Outreach activities are suggested to occur via support workers, at relevant locations, and with a clear purpose.

1. Focused Evidence of Digital Inclusion Impact
Uncovering the Evidence of Digital Impact:
5th Social Digital Research Symposium Programme
25th April 2013

2. Anecdotes from...
Digital Inclusion in South Yorkshire
A research project for the four South Yorkshire local authorities and
Sheffield Hallam University funded by the TSB and the ESRC.

3. Skype in care homes
(Making learning relevant)
„It just sat in the corner‟ „We had to give them the
keys to the cupboard in the
end‟

4. Skype in care homes
Identify need for Skype
Organise session
Run session
Normal duties resume.
Identify need for Skype
Skilled staff member
Interested residents
List of who they‟d call
Check capability of family and
friends
Organise session
Run session
Refresh session 1-2-1
Review quarterly.

5. Employee Confidence
„Older people aren‟t interested.‟
„Young people already know it.‟
„I don‟t think he‟ll be interested,
he‟s got a nice car.‟
Also, lack of confidence/ training can
undermine professional status.

6. Contact points
What support organisations do you deal with on a weekly basis?
“...Doctors, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Chemists,
Secretaries, Consultants, Suppliers – for syringes, Care workers,
Children's Hospice, Psychologist – for emotional development,
Dentist, Epilepsy Nurse, Motability – for the car blue badges etc,
Nurses for the weekend, School, Hydrotherapy, Sensory (they‟re
Private), Visually Impaired team... Most are weekly or two weekly
contacts, some like the Hospice are only once a month for booking
dates to go in”
Annabel, Telephone Interview, 2011

7. Outreach
Via/ with support workers.
At relevant locations.
With a purpose.

8. Other examples
Reports available at: http://independent.academia.edu/HannahGoraya
„Digital Inclusion in South Yorkshire‟
„Surfing the Seven Cs‟

9. Questions?