Our Computer Delivery project has helped Ian pursue his post-retirement writing ambitions during the coronavirus pandemic.
Staying culturally connected
The coronavirus outbreak has impacted people’s daily lives in immeasurable ways. Whilst focus is often on the health and economic impact of restrictions, the repercussions on access to culture through the closure of museums and public libraries has been significant, particularly for older people. The Carnegie UK Trust reports that in 2016, 80% of people over 55 thought that access to public libraries was either essential or very important, and 43% of this cohort were regular service users. As well as access to books, libraries often provide older people with access to computers and the internet.
Our Computer Delivery project has helped some individuals to fill the gap left by the closures of such cultural institutions, by providing them with devices through which they can access online resources. We have now delivered over 1,200 devices to the community, helping people stay connected and pursue their creative and cultural interests.
Pursuing literary ambitions in retirement
Ian, a recent retiree, has always been a keen writer. He saw his retirement as an opportunity to dedicate more time to pursuing his literary ambitions. Ian had never owned a personal computer before. During his first months of retirement, he spent many hours at his local library using their devices. With access to the digital world, he was able to research local history and literary figures, sourcing inspiration for his very own ghost story. His story The Return Of Louis Buchan was so compelling that it caught the attention of Kobo, a leading online publisher, and it is now available to a global audience.
“In the library I used Word. Without that I could get stuff on my phone but it’s too small. So the laptop is a fantastic help, I’m really very grateful…I can use it for Word, emails, Zoom - it’s a really good scheme.”
The coronavirus crisis meant the closure of local libraries across Edinburgh, which seemed to spell the end of Ian’s writing ambitions, at least for the time being. A disappointed Ian happened to discuss his situation with a friend who had received a laptop through our Computer Delivery project. Within a few weeks of contacting us he received a refurbished Chromebook and internet connection, provided to the project by the Scottish Government Connecting Scotland programme. The Chromebook arrived with the word processing software he needed to carry on writing. Ian is currently working on a personal account of life during lockdown, as well as many ideas for new stories. He has now joined our Learn Digital project, receiving ongoing digital support, and is looking forward to learning about video calls to help him keep in contact with friends and family.
Aspects of digital inclusion
Ian’s story shows the value of access to all three aspects of digital inclusion – devices, support and connectivity. In November we held the event Connect Four: Digital Inclusion and published our preliminary report in December highlighting the importance of that third aspect - connectivity. We are now working on a larger report that will form a campaign and call to action to combat data poverty. Stay tuned to learn about how you can join our campaign.