Also in this issue...
BT encourages action on hearing loss
BT is supporting the RNID’s centenary year by helping them promote their hearing check. On their 100th birthday on 9th June, RNID changed its name to Action on Hearing Loss to better reflect what the charity does and the hearing check is an important element of its activity. Around 4 million people who experience hearing loss could benefit from hearing aids but it takes, on average, 10 years for someone to do something about their hearing loss. A simple hearing check could help people understand if they could benefit from taking action. We are working with Action on Hearing Loss to encourage 500,000 people to take the check and BT volunteers will be helping to promote the hearing check during the centenary year.
Take the check yourself and encourage your constituents to do the same. It can be done quickly, easily and confidentially via the phone or online. More information about the hearing check can be found at www.bt.com/hearinghealth, a site that also provides practical information on understanding hearing loss and how to hear better on the phone.
The UK’s first Technology4Good Awards
The Technology4Good Awards scheme was launched this year by AbilityNet, the national charity that helps people with disabilities to use computers and the internet. The awards were developed in conjunction with BT to celebrate and share the success of individuals and organisations that use technology to help make their communities a better place.
The judging panel included Martha Lane Fox, the Government’s Digital Champion who was representing RaceOnLine 2012, and UK online Centres. The awards were an opportunity for charities, businesses, schools, government departments and the public to demonstrate how they’ve used technology to help communities.
The winners, selected from around 250 nominations, were announced at the BT Centre on 7th June. These unique awards have highlighted inspirational examples of how the internet and technology can improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Winners included Lifelites, a children’s charity, which provides digital education and games packages to hospices nationwide and the Starting Point Learning Partnership, a community cyber cafe which grew out of a fish and chip shop.
The BT Contact Us Award (one of eight categories) was won by the Transforming Customer Contact Team of DWP for their implementation of innovative technology, TexBox, that enables textphone users to deal directly with an advisor who can handle the text call from their own PC without the need for a Text Relay assistant.
More information can be found at www.technology4goodawards.org.uk
Constituency noticeboard
Hello the 2011 Year of Communication - free resources available
Hello, the 2011 national year of communication, sponsored by BT, aims to increase understanding of how important it is for children and young people to develop good communication skills. To help parents, teachers and anyone who interacts with young people the Hello campaign provides free resources to help support children's communication development. You can order resources at: www.hello.org.uk
BT launches Moving On
– job application and interviews skills for young adults
Moving On is a free resource from the BT Learning & Skills programme which aims to get students aged 14-19 engaged with the process of preparing for employment, and help them to move confidently from learning to earning in the wider world. Moving On includes curriculum links and teacher and student notes.
For more information vist www.bt.com/movingon
Let primary schools in your constituency know about the Communication Triathlon
Openreach, BT’s local access network division, has launched the UK’s first national Communication Triathlon for schools – with support from children’s charity ICAN.
The Communication Triathlon is a series of active and fun-filled events for primary schools intended to boost speaking and listening skills - which can be undertaken by a class, a year group or a whole school over the course of a week or even a day.
The programme encourages children to take part in three London 2012 themed speaking and listening activities around thinking, talking and teamwork and is split across 4-7 and 7-11 year olds.
The Communication Triathlon is one of three education programmes that BT is supporting as a sustainability partner to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.
Visit www.communicationtriathlon.org.uk to find out more information or contact us for help in promoting this in your constituency.
PrintContact us
For policy enquiries please contact:
Tim O'Sullivan, Director of Public Affairs
Tel: 020 7356 6593
Fax: 020 7726 0613
Email: tim.osullivan@bt.com
For enquiries about constituency issues please contact:
Clova Fyfe, Head of Parliamentary Affairs
Tel: 020 7356 5352
Fax: 020 7726 0613
Email: clova.fyfe@bt.com
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