Good Things Foundation

Good Things Foundation is a UK-based registered charity, the objective of which is to make the benefits of digital technology more accessible. It is responsible for managing the Online Centres Network and the Learn My Way learning platform.[1] The charity was originally known as Online Centres Foundation – a staff-owned social enterprise – before rebranding as Tinder Foundation in 2013. A further rebrand, to Good Things Foundation, took place in November 2016.[2] Good Things Foundation's chief executive is Helen Milner OBE.

History

Originally known as Online Centres Foundation, this staff-owned mutual was established in December 2011 to manage the UK online centres contract after a history of overseeing the network on behalf of Ufi Ltd (now known as learndirect).

In July 2013, the company rebranded as Tinder Foundation, to reflect the wider remit of the organisation, including community action and digital strategy, as well as digital inclusion and learning.[3]

In November 2016, they rebranded once more as Good Things Foundation, partially to avoid confusion with dating application Tinder.[2][4][5]

At the same time, the UK online centres network was renamed the Online Centres Network.

Through their management of the Online Centres Network and the Learn My Way online learning platform, Good Things Foundation has helped more than 2 million people gain the skills they need to use computers and the internet more confidently.

Objectives

Good Things Foundation has three strategic goals: to reduce the scale of digital exclusion across the UK; to improve people's lives by opening up the vast range of learning delivered through digital technology; and to tackle social challenges with digital solutions.[6]

The foundation aims to achieve these goals through numerous different projects, including the Widening Digital Participation programme, run in partnership with NHS England, and the Reboot UK project, which is funded by Big Lottery and is being delivered with consortium partners Mind, Homeless Link and Family Fund.

Funding

Good Things Foundation receives funding from a mixture of public, private and third sectors, including the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, NHS England, Big Lottery Fund, Princes Countryside Fund, Lloyds Banking Group and TalkTalk.[6][7]

People

Helen Milner OBE is the Chief Executive of Good Things Foundation, and has worked closely with Government Ministers and officials on digital inclusion since the 1990s.

Lord Jim Knight is the Chairman of Good Things Foundation. He is currently Managing Director of Online Learning at TES Global, chair of HTI Academies and deputy chair of Nominet Trust. He was a Labour MP from 2001-2010 and is a former Schools and Employment Minister.[8] He became a Life Peer in 2010.

Learn My Way

Learn My Way is Good Things Foundation's online learning platform, built especially to make getting online easy.[1] Since 2010, over 2 million new people have got online in the UK using Learn My Way, with many of them progressing on to employment or further learning.

The Online Basics package is for absolute beginners to the internet. Many members of the Online Centres Network also deliver a City & Guilds approved assessment based on the package, offering learners a Level 3 accreditation. Online Plus allows people to progress to more in-depth learning, adding job hunting, shopping and managing money online to the repertoire of skills available to learners.

The majority of the Online Centres Network use Learn My Way to guide people through digital development, with one-to-one or small group sessions designed around the Learn My Way courses.

Good Things Foundation has worked with partners, including Comic Relief, NHS, National Careers Service and the Money Advice Service to create courses with up-to-date content for learners. Courses are developed to be device-neutral, meaning that learning can take place on PCs, tablets and smartphones.

References
  1. "About Us". Learn My Way. learnmyway.com. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  2. "Tinder Foundation becomes Good Things Foundation" (press release). Good Things Foundation. goodthingsfoundation.org. November 23, 2016. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  3. "Tinder Foundation becomes Good Things Foundation | Online Centres Network". www.onlinecentresnetwork.org. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  4. "The Tinder Foundation changes its name to avoid confusion with dating app". www.civilsociety.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  5. Birkwood, Susannah. "Tinder Foundation changes name to avoid confusion with dating app". www.thirdsector.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  6. Hobbs, David. "Good Things Foundation launches digital inclusion plan". www.thirdsector.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
  7. "TalkTalk joins forces with Good Things Foundation". www.talktalkgroup.com. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  8. "Lord Knight of Weymouth". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
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