UK online centres / Online Centres Foundation Annual Review
2013-2014

Tinder Foundation

Tinder Foundation

The year 2013-14 has been a very significant one for Tinder Foundation, with a new name and a new identity, an ambitious new strategy, diversification, new contracts and new priorities.

Early in 2013, the decision was taken to find a new name for the organisation. The previous name – Online Centres Foundation – had been chosen quickly, and as the organisation began to expand and diversify, it no longer felt representative of the widening scope. After a long process of consultation, both internally and externally, the name Tinder Foundation was chosen to reflect the organisation’s role sparking action in local communities. The new name was launched at an event at the House of Lords, hosted by the Tinder Foundation chairman Lord Knight of Weymouth. The event was attended by a number of stakeholders, centres and learners, all with a stake in the future of the organisation, and all who left with a positive view of the Tinder Foundation and its future.

The launch of the new name for Tinder was accompanied by an ambitious new strategy that set out the organisation’s four core objectives – to support people to improve their digital skills, to support community organisations to do more, to help people learn more using technology as a tool and to support government and organisations to deliver their digital strategies.

Nicola Speake, Project Delivery Manager
My highlight of the year has been working on the English My Way programme, alongside our partners the BBC and British Council. The programme will support English speakers of other languages to improve their language skills with a mix of online learning and local places to learn. Delivery will start in May and I can’t wait to see how it goes!

Nicola Speake, Project Delivery Manager
Craig Salisbury, Network Co-ordinator
It’s been great working on the NHS Widening Digital Participation programme, and seeing all of the innovative activity that has been happening in communities to support people to access digital health information online. I can’t wait to see how it will develop in year two!

Craig Salisbury, Network Co-ordinator
Emily Redmond, Researcher
I’ve been evaluating our Access network, and the Set-up Essentials Tool we launched on the Learn My Way website back in December. It’s been great to see the huge impact it has had on supporting people to get online at home. You can forget how daunting technology can be, and by simplifying language, and giving people the chance to try before they buy, we’ve proved you can really boost their confidence.

Emily Redmond, Researcher
Hannah O’Brien, eLearning Officer
One of my highlights of the year has been growing the Learn My Way website. With the help of a fantastic UK online centres tutor, I’ve developed a new guide that helps people to use Universal Jobmatch - which has been really well received by centres across the network.

Hannah O’Brien, eLearning Officer

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