Get Online @ Home offers free PCs with 12-month broadband signup to combat the digital divide

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It’s not hard to see how the digital divide is hampering the UK’s economic growth and making it harder for local governments to provide services at a lower cost online. Did you know?

  • 6.4 million Brits do not use the internet.
  • 9.5 million Brits lack basic online skills.
  • 500,000 disadvantaged schoolchildren are without home internet access.
  • 90% of jobs will require digital skills by 2015.

But now getting online for the first time is easier than ever. Get Online @ Home is offering a free refurbished PC when choosing from a selection of 12-month broadband contracts from the top UK providers, with prices starting from £1.75 per month. The benefits of this programme to promote digital inclusion are huge. If UK residents without online access did their shopping online, they could save a combined £3 billion. At the same time, government offices would save money if more constituents were accessing services online, instead of by phone or in person.

The PC includes a dual core processor, 80GB hard drive, 15” flatscreen monitor, DVD drive and a new keyboard and mouse. A laptop option is available for just £59, which includes a dual core processor, 80GB hard drive, DVD and minimum 14” screen. All devices come with Windows 7 Pro and Microsoft Office 2010 and are backed by a 12-month warranty.

If you (or someone you know) would like take advantage of this off this deal, simply dial 0800 090 1297 (8am-9pm Monday - Sunday), or visit www.getonlineathome.org. The site makes it easy to get started and contains lots of free guides for getting the most from your online experience.  Don’t delay – the offer is only good through 30 November, 2014.

Get Online @ Home is a cross-sector charity devoted to encouraging and supporting people, business and charities to enjoy the benefits of being online. This offer is made possible thanks to broadband comparison experts Simplifydigital providing the range of broadband deals from top UK providers, and PC refurbishers Stone, Sims Lifecycle Services, Computer Recyclers and Ecosystems IT providing the hardware.

Go ON UK is a cross-sector charity which was established in 2012 to encourage and support people, business and charities to enjoy the benefits of being online. Go ON UK has eight chief executives around its boardroom table – Age UK, BBC, Big Lottery Fund, E.ON, EE, Lloyds Banking Group, Post Office and TalkTalk. Together, Go ON UK’s vision is to make the UK the world’s most digitally skilled nation.

If you work for a local authority or other government office and want to know more about the offer, you can e-mail ukps@microsoft.com for details.