PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
TAP INTO IT (20 February 2017)

That this House congratulates Edinburgh-based Tap into IT on its laudable endeavours to improve the quality of life of people who are most at risk of social isolation; notes that Tap into IT was founded in 2008 by Mike Ellis, and now operates as a Social Enterprise to enable older adults, particularly those over 65, to get online for the first time and to develop basic skills for their own and others' benefits; further notes that it does this by teaching older people to use email and the internet, and helping them to get more out of the web and digital technology; notes that it promotes social inclusion by offering voluntary and paid work experience, forging partnerships with community networks and organisations with an interest in the welfare of vulnerable groups, and providing its services in a community setting; is aware that more than 20 per cent of the population are aged over 65, and that there has been a rapid rise in the number of single-person households; believes that more must be done to tackle the causal connections between social isolation and loneliness, and poor outcomes in older people's mental and physical health; and applauds and commends the excellent work of Tap into IT in improving the IT skills of older people, supporting digital inclusion, and working to promote social inclusion.

Sponsored by:
Ian Murray (Labour)