Digital divide set to close for 10,000 citizens

Microsoft helps tackle social exclusion in Milton Keynes

A social inclusion initiative launched by Milton Keynes Council could benefit up to 10,000 citizens in the area.

Milton Keynes is refurbishing ex-council PCs and laptops and loading them with a "Citizens Skills Pack" of Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. They will be leased for £1.50 a week to citizens who can provide proof of benefit claims or low earnings.

The software pack will also include a special email address, MS Education, Microsoft Digital Literacy curriculum and internet safety and security software and support.

The agreement, the first of its kind in the world, will be delivered through ConnectMK, a firm set up by Milton Keynes Council to tackle digital exclusion by establishing local wireless broadband services.

The UK could turn social exclusion on its head if similar projects were more widely deployed, said Steven Jewell, head of IT services at Milton Keynes.

“UK digital exclusion has remained stubbornly high, despite the best efforts of many different bodies. We aim to achieve a 90 per cent level of digital inclusion in Milton Keynes in the home by 2010/11," he said.