50 Birmingham residents with mobility and health problems have been provided with help and support to get online through a new pilot project led by Birmingham City Council.

The Digital Inclusion Project ran from April to September 2011 in collaboration with Race Online 2012, which aims to get millions more people online before next year’s Olympic Games. It saw participants receive a refurbished laptop or pc as well as six months of training from the Council’s Library Services at Home staff to help develop their IT skills and introduce them to the internet. The training consists of ten one-to-one sessions during the first month, followed by regular support as required.

Mrs Stephens, 65 from Sutton Coldfield joined the Digital Inclusion Project in July 2011. Before taking part she had never used a computer before and, although her daughter had one, Mrs Stephens and her husband did not think they would find a computer useful. Since they received the computer in July Mrs Stephens says, “Now we know how to use the computer, we’re on it all the time. As we can’t walk or get around easily, having a computer is brilliant because it allows you to connect with the outside world. We’ve been able to see where friends we’ve always written to live on Google Earth and have taken a tour around New York using the same programme.

“We are also using the internet for shopping and have recently bought a new fireplace and surround, as well as books and handles for our door. Before we began using a computer our friends and family had being trawling the shops trying to find the right handles for us but didn’t have any luck. We eventually looked online, found exactly the right thing straight away and they arrived to our door in just two days. It’s fantastic! My husband has also become a bit of an addict – he especially enjoys catching up with the sports scores online.

“When the computer first arrived, we had no idea how to use it but were given brilliant training from the people at Library Services at Home. They persevered with us, were patient and explained everything very clearly. We’ll have the computer until July next year but we’re enjoying having it so much that we won’t want to give it up. It’s really made our lives a lot easier.”

Mr Bennett, 78 from Billesley was a complete novice when he started the Digital Inclusion Project in August 2011. He says, “I’m finding the internet very addictive and am enjoying sending and receiving emails, shopping online, as well as keeping up-to-date with the news and sport. Using the internet has made it much easier to keep in touch with relatives and I really like discovering new things online that I wouldn’t have found out before.”

Councillor Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham City Council, adds: “This is a fantastic project for Birmingham and we are thrilled that so many people who don’t find it easy to get out and about have been supported to get online. It is a great example of how the Council’s Library and Archives Services are leading the way in service innovation as we move closer towards the opening of the Library of Birmingham in 2013. To date, Birmingham is one of only two UK cities to have taken part in the scheme. Hearing the stories of the people who have been involved in the project shows just how important initiatives such as this are, and how valuable they can be to the people involved.”

The Digital Inclusion Project was delivered in partnership with Race Online 2012, Museums Libraries and Archives (MLA), Microsoft, BBC and Three Mobile.