UK Post Office Hails New GET CONNECTED to the Internet Campaign

The Post Office has today launched its new GET CONNECTED to the Internet campaign, which aims to help the 16 million people in the United Kingdom who have either never used the internet or have limited skills and knowledge (the ONS puts this figure at just 7.1 million adults).

Apparently the campaign means that 11,800 PostOffice branches across the country will now be able to offer a free service where counter staff print out the nearest internet access points (e.g. libraries to business centres) and related courses to customers’ homes.

Paula Vennells, CEO of the Post Office, 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.”

It’s understood that the related PostCode database is managed by the Online Centres Foundation who have been working closely with Post Office and other organisations to collate the learning centre information. It’s unclear whether the Post Office will also be using the campaign to help promote its own range of fixed line Home Broadband and phone packages.