Where did UK online centres come from?

UK online centres have been around since 2001, following the recognition of a gap between those people with the access and skills to use a computer and the internet and those without. Created by the former Department for Education and Skills (DfES), the network is now run by the UK online centres team at Ufi, the organisation behind learndirect. To find out more about UK online centres, who we are and how the whole thing came about, visit our corporate section by clicking here.

Getting started

I haven't got a clue about computers. How could you help me?

It doesn't matter if you've never used a computer before. UK online centres will give you support - in plain English - to help you get started. No one will talk 'techy' to you or use lots of computer jargon! Once you get going, they'll still be available to guide you if you get stuck.

What will it cost?

Costs vary between centres but in many cases it's completely free to get started. Some centres do make a small charge for access, but might offer concessions for people on benefits, and access may even be free. Make sure you ask for details of charges when you call up to arrange your first visit.

Where's my nearest centre?

To find out where your nearest centre is, ring us on 0800 77 1234. You can also search for a centre online.

Does my local centre provide childcare?

Some centres do have a crèche - when you ring us to find out where your nearest centre is (0800 77 1234), mention that you'd prefer a centre with childcare. If there's one in your area, we'll tell you where it is.

Can I use my skills to get a qualification?

Once you've visited the centre a few times to get a feel for computers, you can start to think about going to the next level. This may involve getting a qualification in basic skills, computing or anything that takes your fancy. Centre staff will be able to advise you.

Does my local centre have wheelchair access?

At UK online centres we believe that everyone should have the chance to learn about computers and the internet. Ring us on 0800 77 1234 and we'll tell you whether your nearest centre is accessible. If it isn't, there may be an alternative centre with access nearby.

I have a visual impairment. Will I be able to use the computers at my local centre?

Some centres have special facilities for people with a visual impairment. Ring us on 0800 77 1234 and we'll tell you whether your nearest centre has suitable facilities - if not, there may be another centre nearby that can help.

English is not my first language. Will I still be able to use the centre?

If English isn't your first language, there are lots of centres that can still help you. Ring us on 0800 77 1234 and we'll tell you where the best centre for you is located.

Getting online

Now that you've started to use the internet, you might have even more questions about what all the terminology means. UK online centre staff will be able to cut through the techno-babble for you, but here are a few frequently asked questions to help you in the meantime!

What is an email?

Email is short for 'electronic mail'. You can send an email to anyone in the world who has an email address. An email address usually looks something like this: fred.bloggs@hostsite.co.uk an email is like writing a letter, except that emails tend be informal, short and to the point. As well as being a fast, cheap way of sending messages, email software allows you to send and receive other kinds of files as attachments - like pictures, video clips and documents.

What is spam?

Spam is a name for unwanted emails that are sent out randomly by unscrupulous people. These emails are usually trying to sell you something. If you get an email from someone you've never heard of, trying to sell you slimming pills, herbal Viagra or access to a porn site, it's probably spam. The internet is clogged up with this junk email. Don't bother reading these messages - just delete them. And never reply to them, even if they offer you the chance to 'unsubscribe' - you'll only end up getting more spam.

Should I be worried about viruses?

Viruses are little computer programs that have been written to cause problems for other people. Some are just irritating; others are very destructive and can destroy the information on your computer. Don't let viruses get in the way of you getting online! Your UK online centre will have people on hand who can give you advice on viruses. You will still need to take a few basic precautions though. The most common way for viruses to spread is for them to be sent out as email attachments. Because of this, you should never open an email attachment you weren't expecting - even if it appears to come from someone you know and even if it looks harmless.

What's a URL?

'URL' is just the technical name for a website's address. Every site - in fact, every page - on the internet needs an address so that your browser can find it. Web addresses (for example, http:// www.bbc.co.uk/weather) have three sections:

• http:// This tells the browser that the address is a web page. These days you don't usually need to type it in - the browser takes care of it.
• www.bbc.co.uk The second part is the name of the 'domain' (the computer) where the website is stored. Every computer on the World Wide Web (www) that contains a website has a name. In this case, it's 'bbc.co.uk'.
• /weather This is the name of the specific page you are looking at. If there isn't a pagename in the address you're looking at (for example, in the address www.google.com), the browser will just take you to the site's homepage.

What is a link?

One of the basic ideas of the web is that pages link to each other. These links are often called 'hyperlinks'. A link can be a word or a picture and it can take you to another page within the same site or a different site altogether. When you move your mouse pointer over a link, it usually changes from an arrow to a hand. When a link is a piece of text, it's usually underlined and shown in a different colour. After you've clicked it, it will often change its colour to show that it's a 'visited link'.

What is a browser?

A browser is a piece of software that lets you look at pages on the internet. The most common browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. There are other, more specialist browsers, like Firefox, Opera and Lynx; Safari is a browser designed for Macintosh computers.

Browsers tend to be quite similar to each other. They usually allow you to:
Retrace your steps with a Back button
Return to your start page with a Home button
Stop loading the current page with a Stop button
Look at the latest version of a page with a Refresh button
Change the appearance of the pages you view, for example, by making the text bigger.