Barnsley launches digital inclusion initiatives

Council wants everyone in borough online by 2012

The initiative aims to get all groups online

Barnsley Council has launched a number of schemes aimed at getting everyone in the borough online by 2012.

The authority has launched a programme called Totally Online Barnsley supported by £1.5m of EU money and £1.5m from the government.

The council will host a number of "Get Online" days based at local online centres aimed at encouraging people to make use of the internet.

Phil Coppard, Barnsley Council chief executive, said the initiative aims to help people understand what the internet can offer them.

“By providing support and training, this will give individuals the confidence and skills needed to help navigate the digital world," he said.

Twenty one unemployed people in the area are to be trained as digital outreach trainers. They will work with their communities to spread the message and encourage people to attend the Get Online days.

The council has also invested in a new datacentre as a joint venture with its IT supplier Bull.

As well as supporting council operations, the datacentre will sell services to businesses that spring up as a result of the digital inclusion agenda. It will also be available for use by neighbouring councils.

Barnsley is also one of four South Yorkshire authorities in the process of deploying superfast broadband that will cover 97 per cent of homes and businesses in the area – some 1.3 million people - as part of a £90m programme of investment, including £30m from the European Region Development Fund.

The 25 Mbit/s network will be available in some areas from early next year and completed in 2012.

Government digital inclusion champion Martha Lane Fox welcomed the initatives, noting that one in four people in the UK still do not use the internet regularly.

"Barnsley is a fantastic example of how communities can benefit from being online and has clearly demonstrated that through innovation, forward-thinking and engaging in good public-private partnerships, the goals of digital inclusion can be achieved," she said.