Northern Ireland

EverybodyOnline Northern Ireland (NI) was a three year pioneering community development initiative which promoted social inclusion through the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICT).

Delivered by the UK charity Citizens Online and jointly funded by BT and the Delivery and Innovation Division within the Department of Finance and Personnel, EverybodyOnline NI helped some of the most socially and digitally excluded communities in Northern Ireland overcome barriers to technology and the internet so they can enjoy its benefits.

Over the course of the three year project (2006 - 2009) we specifically worked with:

· Older people
· People in the North West and Fermanagh & South Tyrone regions
· People with a disability

To achieve the following overarching objectives:

· Promote awareness of and increase access to ICT by highlighting its benefits among no-users and new users in disadvantaged areas and communities
· Address community concerns such as; communication, community involvement, literacy and employability, by using digital technology as a key tool
· Work with local organisations and community activists to enhance community development, enabled by ICT
· Drive broadband take up
· Seek a lasting legacy through community development principles, local volunteers and empowerment of individuals and organisations

Publishing its 2006 – 2009 Project Review at a special event in Belfast, EverybodyOnline has directly helped over 8,000 people from excluded communities get online and discover the opportunities the internet has to offer.

Research conducted by the charity showed after participating in the EverybodyOnline experience, 92 per cent of people reported an increase in confidence in using online technology, with more than seven out of ten people committing to encouraging their family and friends to step into the virtual world and find out what the internet can do for them.

As part of its legacy, EverybodyOnline has developed a range of free to download toolkits to help people get the most from the internet. Toolkits and digital inclusion best practice guidelines are available by logging on to the Citizens Online website, http://www.citizensonline.org.uk/everybody_online/resources