Key learning: digital technology
The Covid-19 crisis has highlighted the need for us to enable more older people to access the internet so that they can stay socially connected, even in lockdown. The crisis has accelerated the process that was already happening. We have been gathering examples of the many creative and thoughtful efforts that organisations have made to help older people use digital technology and stay in touch with each other, friends and family.
Learning links
Time to Shine reports
- A Lifeline in desperate times: lockdown learning from Time to Shine delivery partners (Time to Shine, March 2020)
- Case study of the Bee Together project (Time to Shine/University of Sheffield)
- Digital Angels (Time to Shine / Age UK Leeds)
- Exploring the online world (Time to Shine, September 2020)
- Reducing loneliness through digital connections: case study of the Digital Angels project (Care Connect)
Time to Shine learning briefings
A series of short reports based upon the experiences of Time to Shine funded organisations during the Covid-19 crisis.
- Adapting rapidly to change: a lockdown diary (Time to Shine, July 2020)
- Helping people to get on-line before Winter 20/21 (Time to Shine, July 2020)
- How to write a blog - tips and ideas, with session handout (Time to Shine, December 2020)
- The Leeds Directory (Time to Shine, November 2020)
- Training, supporting and managing volunteers remotely (Time to Shine, October 2020)
Reports from other Ageing Better programmes
- Championing Digital Inclusion (Ageing Better in East Lindsey, January 2021)
- Covid-19 Case study: Evington Crochet4All group (Leicester Ageing Together, June 2020)
- Covid-19 digital inclusion support - case studies (Ageing Better Middlesbrough, June 2020)
- Developing social contact models in a time of social distancing (Ambition for Ageing, Manchester, July 2020)
- Digital inclusion during COVID 19 – identifying gaps and bridging the digital divide(s) (Ageing Better in East Lindsey, November 2020)
- Engaging with members not online - teleconferencing (Ageing Better in Camden, June 2020)
- Providing access to digital services for those not online (Ageing Better in East Lindsey, September 2020)
- Resilience through digital inclusion (Ageing Better in East Lindsey, September 2020)
- What has the Bristol Support Hub for Older People learnt about online and telephone group activities? (Bristol Ageing Better, September 2020)
National reports
- Learning snapshot: positives of digital (National Lottery Community Fund, March 2021)
- Positives of digital connection (National Lottery Community Fund, March 2021)
- Volunteering in the pandemic: practical ideas for supporting people who help (Campaign to End Loneliness)