Race Online 2012

Race Online 2012 is a challenge to everyone in the UK. The ambition is to make the UK the first nation in the world where everyone can use the web.

Technology links us together like never before. The UK has 40 million adult internet users, with 30 million people using the web every day.

However, there are 9 million adults in the UK who have never used the internet – the combined size of the entire population of our five biggest cities.

Four million of those are among the most disadvantaged:

• 39% are over 65
• 38% are unemployed
• 19% are families with children.

We need urgent action to inspire, encourage and support millions more people online by the end of the Olympic year 2012 through partnership with government, industry, charities and individuals.

The Race Online 2012 campaign was founded by Martha Lane Fox. Martha was reappointed UK Digital Champion by the new government in June 2010. Her remit includes advising government how to provide better, more efficient online public services and accelerating efforts to help more people benefit from the power of the internet.