Get Yourself Online Week: Free digital advice and support
An COSÁN is calling for communities across Ireland to join ‘Get Yourself Online Week’-Ireland’s first community-based digital inclusion week, which aims to boost adults’ digital skills and confidence.
Get Yourself Online Week (GYOW) will run from April 25-29, 2022. As part of the week’s activities, An Cosán is offering members of the public the opportunity to avail of a free digital assessment, advice and support at its community education centre in Tallaght.
An Cosán’s network of 226 community partners will be offering similar opportunities for digital upskilling at their centres across the country, enabling adult learners to find out where and how they can start to learn the essential skills needed for today’s digital world.
Speaking ahead of GYOW, An Cosán Chief Executive Officer Heydi Foster said: “Getting online confidently, safely and affordably has never been more important. An Cosán has seen first-hand how the pandemic highlighted digital literacy. It is now essential for everyone to be able to access essential services online, learn and work from home, keep up with the latest reputable news, and connect digitally with friends and family.”
Ms Foster said she would like to commend An Cosán’s community partners for engaging in this important social and economic endeavour.
“A particular shout out to our newly-appointed Digital Champions across the country who will play an important role in our Get Yourself Online campaign,” she said. “I want to thank our community partners for making this possible and to our sponsors, Accenture and SOLAS, for their ongoing commitment and support in tackling digital exclusion in Ireland”.
Currently almost one in two adults in Ireland lack basic digital skills, according to the Government’s Adult Literacy For Life Strategy launched last September. It is hoped that enabling adult learners currently lacking basic digital skills to get online confidently and safely will help Ireland reach the European Union target of 80% of adults with digital skills by 2030.
Anyone interested should phone 01 462 8488 or call into An Cosán, Kiltalown Village Centre, Jobstown, D24 R3PN, to make an appointment.
