StartHere with EverybodyOnline - local information at the push of a button
Summary
StartHere touch screen kiosks are internet enabled kiosks which have basic push buttons and an easy to read screen to bring local information to local residents who do not have access to the internet. When plans of installing one in a local community venue fell through, EverybodyOnline project officer for Portsoken City of London, Liam Barnes, set to work to get one installed at the local Portsoken Community Centre, a valued hub of community involvement.
What Happened
Liam recognised the potential of the touch-screen kiosk as an accessible, simple way to seek well needed local advice and support services for local residents. Liam got in touch with ‘StartHere’, the charity who, through a partnership with NHS Choices and DirectGov provide free internet kiosks to voluntary and health sector organisations that work with vulnerable and hard to engage groups. The project adopts a targeted approach to extend the reach of online government information and services.
What makes the kiosk so simple and useful to use, is that it only contains key information from useful websites to the local vicinity in which it is placed and helps people to use services such as booking hospital appointments, finding the nearest NHS dentist and locating local parenting support groups. Examples of these websites include: DirectGov, NHS Choices, the Portsoken community website and the StartHere database of local community services.
After a series of interactive demonstrations in the centre, and with the kiosk also providing information in Bengali it has now become a talking point on the estate; the residents now have the opportunity to see just how useful the internet can be!
Key Achievements
• By working in partnership with StartHere; EverybodyOnline is helping local people gain access to local support services and how the internet can provide essential information
• The kiosk has proved to be an accessible tool to motivate people to use the internet
• Following a demonstration on the kiosk, one lady asked if the internet was that easy to use; she has since joined an EverybodyOnline session learning the first steps of using computers and the internet.