Digital exclusion is a social care issue, whether it’s ordering prescriptions, applying for benefits or simply talking to others. So what is being done to help more people get online?

Jessica Fuhl
Guardian Professional, Wednesday 17 October 2012 09.30 BST

Carlton Gaskin at one of Age UK’s Itea and biscuits event, aimed at getting more older people using technology.

In 2008, 84-year-old Margaret Rickson had never used a computer before, but within three weeks of picking up a laptop she became the first patient to ask for a repeat prescription online. After enrolling for a computer course at her local library in Cheshire, Rickson has become an active campaigner in the local community, promoting the benefits of online services.

This week is Get online week. Organised by the Online Centres Foundation, which provides a national network of UK online centres, the aim is to get some of the approximately eight million people in the UK who have never used the internet online to “help make their lives bigger and better”. Margaret Rickson is just the type of person whom the Online Centres Foundation would champion as an ambassador for the advantages of accessing digital services.

The benefits of getting online are even greater than ever. In April a new universal credit will be introduced replacing many current benefits – and the government wants 80% of applications for universal credit to be online by 2017. Those not online can lose out financially, by not being able to access goods that can be found cheaper than in shops, and socially, without contact with others though email and social networking sites.