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News archive The internet made easy for all - Skills Minister Hundreds of people across England are getting into information technology the easy way, thanks to a new service tested this week by Skills Minister Phil Hope. The Minister visited a centre in South London delivering myguide, a website designed to make getting online simple and intuitive. Set up by the Department for Education and Skills, the myguide service has been developed and managed by Ufi on behalf of the Department. It is being piloted in London, Blackburn, Leicester, Gloucester and North Norfolk in libraries and community education centres, as well as in selected UK online centres across England. Skills Minister Phil Hope went along to Norwood Library to see for himself just how myguide is helping people new to the internet get logged onto the web, set up an email account and surf their way into the 21st Century. He said: "The internet is becoming an increasingly important part of everyday life, and it's getting to the point where people who don't use IT are actually at a disadvantage. The internet has opened up whole new worlds of information and opportunity - whether it's keeping up with far flung family and friends, researching hobbies, accessing online banking and e-government services or getting shopping bargains and great holiday deals. "The problem is that not everyone has the access, ability, or confidence to get started. With myguide, anyone can go into their nearest centre and use the easy step-by-step service and get as much support as they need from centre staff. It's great to see the difference it's already making to people's lives here in Norwood." Ufi Director Helen Milner was also at the centre to receive Phil Hope and discuss taking the myguide service forward. She added: "myguide really is the hassle free, cost-free way to get onto the web. It has been designed with a high level of accessibility to be used by people with no experience of the internet at all - including those with visual impairments, and cognitive or physical disabilities. For too many people internet sites can be at best confusing and at worst impossible to use. By providing a gateway to the internet that's easy to navigate, clean and simple, we're reaching people who have never used the internet before and enabling them to send their first emails and access all the advantages the internet can provide." One person who never expected to be surfing the net is Linda Pike age 59, from Gypsy Hill, Norwood, S London. She has been coming into the centre to use myguide for 10 weeks, and demonstrated to Phil and Helen just how easy it is to use. Linda said: "I never thought I'd be able to get to grips with this technology. But when I found out about myguide, I decided to give it a go. Now you can't get me off the computer! "Using myguide I can email all the time, look up information on websites and find what I want quickly. In the local centre I can get help and everyone is really friendly and approachable. "At first, I found it awkward to hold a mouse, and I was afraid I'd press the wrong button, but myguide really gave me confidence - it's so easy you can't go wrong. It's easy to log on and the home page is well laid out so you can see what you are doing really clearly "I bet there's lots of people like me who just never thought they would be able to send an email or go on the internet. I'd certainly recommend them to try myguide - if it can work for me, it can work for anyone! I'd encourage more youngsters to come in and try it too." Ends For further information please contact Abi Stevens on 0778 666 0689, or email
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