Press release -
Post Office launches 'Get Connected' to the internet campaign
- Supporting the 16 million people in the UK who have either never used the internet or have limited internet skills and knowledge
- First time UK's 5,000 courses and access points joined up and made available as a walk in service
- 11,800 branches can issue details of nearest internet support
The Post Office is committed to supporting the 16 million people without internet skills or access to ‘get connected’ to the web. Post Office branches now offer a free service where counter staff print out the nearest internet access points to customers’ homes. Post Office is a founder partner of charity Go ON UK which aims to make the UK the world’s most digitally skilled nation.
Post Office, Online Centre Foundation and partners have for the first time brought together the information about internet courses across the UK to create a single database. The Post Office can now link to that system, insert a postcode into their registers and print off the nearest five addresses of free or low cost internet access and training points.
Chief Executive of the Post Office Paula Vennells said: “The internet is a huge part of everyday life but there are millions of people who are missing out on the benefits of being online. Our ‘Get Connected’ campaign, part of our commitment to charity Go ON UK, is an exciting development where people who don’t have access to the internet will be able to find a facility to get online.
“It is a real disadvantage being excluded from the better deals and offers only available online. There are also social exclusion aspects such as keeping in touch with friends and family to help combat loneliness and isolation. We are well placed to take on this role, serving around 20 million customers a week.”
The internet points range from libraries to business centres, and provide either training or simple access. 99.7% of people live within three miles of their nearest Post Office outlet with 93.1% within a mile.
Supporting the launch of ‘Get Connected’, TV presenter Maggie Philbin said: “Technology has come a long way in the last few years and for many people it is a way of life. It is staggering that there are 16 million people who are still not using the internet on a regular basis. It is important that we support those who either don’t have the access or don’t feel confident on the internet so that they can realise the benefits of the web.”
The Post Office has been instrumental in helping create this national database of over 5,000 online centres and access points which is the first time this has ever been achieved.
Go ON UK CEO Graham Walker welcomed the announcement: "At the heart of our communities, the Post Office is ideally placed to signpost the 16 million people without Basic Online Skills to get the help they need as close to home as possible. ‘Get Connected’ makes that easier to find. This is a big step forward for the Go ON UK Digital Skills Alliance and its mission to make the UK the world's most digitally skilled nation."
The database is managed by Online Centres Foundation who have been working closely with Post Office and other organisations to collate the learning centre information. Other partners contributing venue information to the database alongside UK online centres are the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), Welsh Government’s Communities 2.0 digital inclusion programme, Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE), Libraries NI and Go ON NI.
Follow @postofficenews for the latest information and join the discussion with #POgetconnected.
The Post Office already provides 170 different services and products spanning financial services including savings, insurance, loans, mortgages and credit cards. It also offers telephony; foreign currency; travel insurance and mail services.
The Post Office, now independent of Royal Mail, has an unrivalled national network of over 11,500 branches across the UK, more than all the banks and building societies combined, and sits at the heart of many communities across the country. It serves around 20 million customers a week and half of all small businesses.
Online Centres Foundation:
- UK online centres is a national network of local places where people can go to find free or very low cost access to computers and the internet, alongside the help and support to use them. There are 5,000 centres across the UK within local communities, in places like community centre, libraries, pubs, cafes and mosques. You can find a local centre near you by calling 0800 77 1234 or visiting
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- The UK online centres network is managed by Online Centres Foundation, a not-for-profit staff-owned mutual.
Go ON UK:
- Go ON UK aims to make the UK the world’s most digitally skilled nation. Chaired by Baroness Lane-Fox, it’s working alongside FOUNDER PARTNERS Age UK, BBC, Big Lottery Fund, E.ON, EE, Lloyds Banking Group, Post Office and TalkTalk to ensure that everyone and every organisation – from small business to large corporations and charities – has the Basic Online Skills to enjoy the social, economic and cultural benefits of the internet. By doing so, we can supercharge the UK economy and substantially improve the health, wealth and wellbeing of our society. Find out more:
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About the Post Office
The Post Office (Post Office Limited) has an unrivalled national network of over 11,500 branches across the UK, more than all the high street banks combined, and sits at the heart of communities in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The Post Office has made a commitment to maintaining its network of branches at its current size and reach. It provides around 170 different products and services spanning financial services including savings, insurance, loans, mortgages and credit cards; Government services; telephony; foreign currency; travel insurance and mail services.
The Post Office serves over 17 million customers a week and a third of small businesses. Some 99.7% of the total population live within three miles of a post office and over 97% live with one mile of a post office. For many rural communities, the post office is the only retail outlet. Post Offices branches remain highly valued and trusted, and are the focal point of many communities. For more information, visit http://www.postoffice.co.uk/.
Please note the Press Office team can only deal with enquiries from the media. Unfortunately they do not have access to customer information so can not help with customer enquiries.
If you have an enquiry regarding any Post Office product or service please visit postoffice.co.uk or call 0845Local call rates apply. Call costs may vary depending on your service provider. Calls may be monitored or recorded for training and compliance purposes. 611 2970.
