The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has been selected as a semi-finalist in the £50,000 Ageing Well Challenge Prize.
The 'Digital Eyes' initiative will introduce blind and partially sighted older people to affordable, accessible tablets, smartphones and e-readers to make it easier for them to keep in touch with friends and family. The technology will also enable them to find out about local services, save money through comparison sites or online shopping and continue to enjoy hobbies.
RNIB Group's experienced Technology Support staff and volunteers will run the training sessions for these older people with sight loss, who will then get a chance to try out the tablets and phones on loan and will be encouraged to take on the role of training new participants themselves to pass on the knowledge and benefits they have unlocked.
Reducing isolation
The challenge, run by Nesta, the UK's innovation foundation, and funded by the Cabinet Office, aims to identify new ideas that can influence and encourage communities to make significant reductions in reducing isolation and increasing mobility for years to come.
Helen Johnston, RNIB Technology Support Service Manager, said: "Tablets, smartphones and e-readers are transforming how people use the internet, communicate with friends, and get the best deals on goods and services.
"Only a click away"
"However, many blind and partially sighted older people are missing out on these benefits as they often feel that the technology is too complicated or inaccessible. Through volunteer-led training sessions and equipment loans, Digital Eyes will give them the confidence to 'have a go' and realise that a whole new world is only a click away."
All semi-finalists will be supported to develop a detailed plan for their idea. In January, five concepts for each, with the potential for sustainability and scale, will be selected to test their ideas. They will receive up to £10,000 and professional advice to set up and test their projects before a winner for each challenge is selected in September 2013 and awarded £50,000.
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Notes to editors
For media enquiries, please contact Rachel Cafferty in RNIB's Public Relations Team on 0207 391 2043 or 0207 391 2223, email rachel.cafferty@rnib.org.uk
Sight loss affects people of all ages but as we get older we are increasingly likely to experience deteriorating vision. One in five people aged 75 and over are living with sight loss, while one in two people aged 90 and over are affected.
About RNIB
Everyday around 100 people in the UK start to lose their sight. There are around 2 million people in the UK with sight problems. RNIB is the leading charity working in the UK offering practical support, advice and information for anyone with sight difficulties. If you, or someone you know, has a sight problem RNIB can help. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk
About RNIB Group
The RNIB group of charities is made up of the Royal National Institute of Blind People, Action for Blind People, Cardiff, Vales and Valleys, and National Talking Newspapers and Magazines.
Working together as the RNIB Group further increases the impact all the organisations have on the lives of blind and partially sighted people and gives them a better chance of radically improving the availability of high quality services for people with sight loss.
About NESTA and the Giving Challenges
Nesta is the UK's innovation foundation. We help people and organisations bring great ideas to life. We do this by providing investments and grants and mobilising research, networks and skills. We are an independent charity and our work is enabled by an endowment from the National Lottery.
Nesta Operating Company is a registered charity in England and Wales with a company number 7706036 and charity number 1144091. Registered as a charity in Scotland number SC042833. Registered office: 1 Plough Place, London, EC4A 1DE
www.nesta.org.uk
The Giving Challenges have been set to encourage community innovation in the giving of time, skills and resources for social good. They are funded by the Cabinet Office and will see one idea from each of the challenges awarded £50,000.
The semi-finalists will be supported to develop a detailed plan for their idea. In January, five concepts for each, with the potential for sustainability and scale, will be selected to test their ideas. They will receive up to £10,000 and professional advice to set up and test their projects before a winner for each challenge is selected in September 2013 and awarded £50,000.
For each challenge, 25 entries will be shortlisted and given the support and opportunity to develop a detailed plan for their idea. Five concepts for each, with the potential for sustainability and scale, will then receive up to £10,000 and professional advice to set up
Ageing Well Challenge Prize: challenge tasks organisations and groups to develop ideas to reduce the isolation and / or increase the mobility of vulnerable older people by creating new opportunities for people to give time, skills and resources.
For more information about The Cabinet Office and its work on giving please go to www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk