Notes to editors

About Get online day

• This is the second Get online day, and last year more than 10,000 people used it as their excuse to give the internet a go.  Around 97% of last year’s visitors enjoyed the day so much they planned to keep on using the internet in the future.  
• Get online day events will be run across England on or around 24 October 2008 – depending on the half terms and opening hours of individual UK online centres.  
• Get online day is a UK online centres campaign, and part of the Campaign for Learning’s Family Learning Festival.  Get online day 2008 is supported by Becta, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, Directgov, Ofcom and TalkTalk.  
• The focus of Get online day in each centre is an online internet-taster game called Challenge the Walkers.  The game gives people a taste of different online family resources and activities, including NHS Choices, Directgov, a homework research exercise and the chance to try online shopping.  At the end of the game, visitors are asked to fill in a short questionnaire about their visit, and will be entered into a prize draw for laptop and broadband prizes donated by TalkTalk.  
• One in three adults in the UK are still not using computers and the internet, and that includes around 25% of parents.  The internet is an important resource for families, and it can help save time, hassle and money.  Whether it’s helping with homework research, looking up leisure or health information, getting the groceries in, comparing prices or finding a bargain, it can play an important part in everyday family life.  
• At Holborn Library, several volunteers have come along to talk to guests about their experiences, why they were off-line and what made them decide it was time to give the internet a go.  
• For more information please visit www.getonlineday.com

• UK online centres provide millions of people with access to technology and support in using it.  They offer free or low cost access to the internet and email, deliver online courses and encourage people to progress onto further learning.   For more information please visit www.ukonlinecentres.com
• There are around 6,000 UK online centres across England, based in libraries, community centres, places of worship, on high streets and even mobile centres taking computers and the internet out to people on buses.  UK online centres are managed by Ufi, the organisation also behind learndiect

• The first UK online centre learning centre in Camden Council's libraries opened in 2001. Since then, they've helped about 4,000 local people develop computer skills, from the very basics to qualifications like the European Computer Driving Licence.
• Camden Council library UK online centres offer free access to the internet and email, deliver online courses and encourage people to progress onto further learning.