Argos Offers Free Broadband And Tablets To Help Elderly Get Online

Mike Moore,
argos internet workshop

Argos Internet Workshops aim to help educate the 9.5m Britons who still have no access to the Internet

Argos has announced plans to help adults unfamiliar with the Internet through a new education scheme teaming them vital online skills.

The new Argos Internet Workshops are part of a partnership with digital skills charity Go ON UK, and will offer up to 10,000 adults the chance to improve their digital knowledge.

The scheme will also look at getting more people online, offering vouchers for a year’s free broadband from TalkTalk and a free Proscan dual core tablet to give them their first taste of the Internet.

elderly woman using tablet ©racorn / shutterstock.comFirst steps

The workshops will run in 120 communities across the UK from 25 October through to mid-January 2015, and will see specially-trained Argos workers help participants learn the basics of how to use a tablet, connect to and surf the internet, use a search engine, set up email, stay safe online and more.

“The digital revolution continues apace, however, millions remain on the side-lines,” said John Walden, Chief Executive of Home Retail Group, which owns Argos. “Argos Internet Workshops have been developed to help people overcome the barriers of access and affordability and improve their knowledge, understanding and confidence in digital technology.

“The internet is becoming increasingly essential in day-to-day life, and offers a world of new possibilities that we believe everyone should be able to access.”

Recent research from Ofcom showed that the number of adults using tablets specifically to go online almost doubled year on year, with older people increasingly turning to tablet devices due to the growing popularity of apps like Skype to keep in touch with their families.

“As many areas of everyday life become ‘digital by default’, with a number of government and business services becoming accessible only online, we need to ensure that everyone has the digital skills needed to participate in our evolving digital age,” said Baroness Lane-Fox,chair of Go ON UK.

A video with more details on the scheme can be seen here.

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