1) The document summarizes a webinar about tackling loneliness through providing technology to vulnerable people. 2) It discusses organizations that donate devices like Wavelength and Good Things Foundation and how an AbilityNet volunteer helps people use technology. 3) Key points covered include the impact of technology in reducing loneliness, the DevicesDotNow program that has provided over 2000 people with devices and connectivity, and real stories from beneficiaries who feel less isolated with access to technology.

1. AbilityNet LIVE! Fighting loneliness
through technology
Getting devices to vulnerable people
• Tim Leech CEO, Wavelength
• Angela Ellis, Head of Digital Social Inclusion Delivery, Good Things
Foundation
• Myles Pilling, AbilityNet Volunteer
30 June 2020

2. Bridging the gap: Tackling loneliness through tech| 30 June 2020
Housekeeping
• Live captions are available during the webinar
• Please use the Q&A window to ask questions NOT the chat window
• Slides, a transcript and recording will be made available post-
webinar – you will be notified via email
• There will be a feedback form to ask any follow up questions

3. Bridging the gap: Tackling loneliness through tech| 30 June 2020
Welcome: Devices webinar
• Responding to the pandemic with devices for all
• Wavelength
• Good Things Foundation
• Getting the most from your device (AbilityNet Volunteer)
• Your questions

4. Bridging the gap: Tackling loneliness through tech| 30 June 2020

5. Bridging the gap: Tackling loneliness through tech| 30 June 2020
WaveLength is the UK’s oldest loneliness and
technology charity.
We give out media technology to those who are lonely and living in poverty. These items
act as a window to the world and help people to participate in everyday life.

6. Bridging the gap: Tackling loneliness through tech| 30 June 2020
Wavelength’s impact
The people we help said
that the tablet has made
them feel like they have
better connections, a better
support network and feel
less lonely.
For some women that haven’t been allowed to watch TV, just to sit with other women and chat, it’s a massive thing when
they can come in and easily do this.

7. Bridging the gap: Tackling loneliness through tech| 30 June 2020
Wavelength beneficiaries
Since 2013, we’ve helped over:
322,000 people
and given:
Often people stories are
oversimplified
where the present is how
they are classified
yet they may have multiple
overlapping issues
20%
of WaveLength’s work
supports people who
are over 55+.
In 2019,
18,700
new people
benefited from
WaveLength’s
work.
Over
70%
of individual applicants live in
the North West,
East Midlands, & London.

8. Bridging the gap: Tackling loneliness through tech| 30 June 2020
Beneficiaries Tech survey
• Wavelength beneficiaries Tech Survey
• F/M 56% 44% Age Average 70 City 43% Town 43% Village 14%
• Only 4% had access to the internet and only 4% a computer
• Only 26% used a Library
• How often did they see someone weekly 56% monthly 17% yearly
13%
• How may times a week do they get out 2.4 days

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EL endemically lonely
HL high level of loneliness
ML medium level of loneliness
LL low level of loneliness
Use of every day technology
televisions, radios and tablets
seems to be highly effective
mitigating the impacts of
loneliness, improving health and
well-being outcomes.
Types of loneliness identified

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Covid-19
LL ML HL EL
LL
ML
EL
HL
EL
ML
HL LL

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Impact of technology on loneliness
1. People who received technology saw a statistically significant reduction in
emotional and social loneliness.
2. After receiving technology, people rated their own health as higher,
compared to 2 months before. A reduction in loneliness was associated
with an increase in self-rated health.
3. Loneliness did not discriminate based on age, sex, or region

12. Bridging the gap: Tackling loneliness through tech| 30 June 2020
Statistics: correlation is not causation
• Using the related-samples Wilcoxon signed rank test (which tests for the median of differences from
initial to final scores).
• A statistically significant reduction was found in emotional loneliness between time points (p<0.001),
social loneliness (p<0.001), and total loneliness (p<0.001).
• Self-rated health was measured using a single question with five response options. Using the related-
samples, a statistically significant increase was found in self-rated health between time points (p<0.001).
• As loneliness scores decreased, self-rated health scores increased. This was found for emotional
loneliness, social loneliness, and total loneliness (p<0.001).
• All hypothesis tests use a p-value to weigh the strength of the evidence. The p-value is a number
between 0 and 1. A small p-value (typically ≤ 0.05) indicates strong evidence against the null hypothesis.
In our case, the null hypothesis is that technology causes loneliness.

13. Bridging the gap: digital devices and the pandemic?| 30 June 2020
How technology fights loneliness
“The radio’s been
fantastic! It’s always
on when cooking is
taking place and has
encouraged everyone
to join in and makes
the place cheerful.”

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Facebook.com/Wavelength.Charity
Wavelengthcharity
WaveLengthhelp

15. Bridging the gap: Tackling loneliness through tech| 30 June 2020

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Good Things Foundation
• Leading national digital social inclusion charity
• Work with 5000+ community partners through
Online Centres Network
• We want people to be: Digitally Able, Equal, and
Safe
• In order to be: Happier, Healthier, and Better Off
• Learn My Way - free online basics learning
platform since 2013

17. Bridging the gap: Tackling loneliness through tech| 30 June 2020 We deliver at scale
- since 2010 we
have helped over 3
million people use
digital to have
better lives
3,248,081 people*
Our vision is a world
where everyone
benefits from digital

18. What is DevicesDotNow?
DevicesDotNow is helping those most in need get access
to devices and the internet
Businesses and individuals have donated devices and
cash.
The Online Centres Network set up the devices and
connectivty and provide ongoing support
Find out more:
https://www.onlinecentresnetwork.org/news-and-
activity/news/devicesdotnow

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How does the scheme work?
Who is eligible?
• People who can’t afford to purchase their own
• Anyone who is vulnerable
What do people receive?
• A device, connectivity and support
How many people have received devices so far?
• Over 2000 people
• But not enough - demand is huge

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DevicesDotNow Impact Report
Impact Report
Interim Impact Report #1:
24 March - 19 May 2020

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Key stats

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Mable’s story

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How AbilityNet can Help: Myles Pilling
• Why did you decide to volunteer for AbilityNet?
• What is the role of an AbilityNet volunteer?
• What have been your biggest achievements?
• Have there been any particularly challenging issues?
• How have you been helping people during the pandemic?

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About AbilityNet, and how we can help
• Our mission is a digital world accessible to all
• Supporting people at home, at work and in education
• Network of 300+ trusted (DBS-checked) volunteers.
• Call FREE on 0800 048 7642
• FREE online support through My Computer My Way,
My Study My Way, and via a series of FREE factsheets
• We can also help with a Disabled Student Assessment

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Making a difference to our clients
80% of clients said that they were “better able to use technology”
thanks to help from our volunteers
78% find it easier to manage daily life
86% felt more knowledgeable
76% felt more independent
69% felt less isolated

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• @Mark
Q&A

27. Bridging the gap: Tackling loneliness through tech| 30 June 2020
• @Mark
For details of future webinars
https://abilitynet.org.uk/free-
resources/webinars

28. Bridging the gap: Tackling loneliness through tech| 30 June 2020
• @Mark
Donate and support AbilityNet
www.abilitynet.org.uk/donate

29. Bridging the gap: Tackling loneliness through tech| 30 June 2020
• @Mark
Thank You