During the 10 years we been giving training we have succeeded in providing tutors not only in London and within the M25 but have a presence in South Wales, the Home Counties, Birmingham, Merseyside and Scotland (Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth). We are proud of this achievement, but we recognise that we are only covering a tiny percentage of the total number of disabled people who could benefit from our service.
The long-term plan for UCanDoIT is to achieve sustainable long-term funding through government channels. We estimate that there are at least 150,000 blind, deaf and disabled people in the United Kingdom who do not have access to computers or computer training, but who could benefit enormously from it. Our research shows that reaching this group over a ten year period would cost £3.5 million per year. This is a very large sum to obtain from a private benefactor, but is only a very small amount of money in comparison with the government’s annual budget for disability, which exceeds £40 billion.
Consequently, over the last ten years, we have campaigned ceaselessly for government support and although we have met with kindly words and encouragement, we have not received any money other than by bidding for funding from the European Social Fund (ESF).
The highlights of our campaign have been as follows:
2009
Meeting with Rt . Hon. Paul Murphy (Secretary of State for Wales & Cabinet Minister for Digital Inclusion). This was another highly successful meeting. The Minister gave the UCanDoIT concept his full support, but unfortunately, he left office a few weeks later. Various correspondence with Anne Begg MSP, Rt. Hon Jim Knight MP, Nia Griffith MP and others. We petitioned the Prime Minister about the UCanDoIT service and received a most encouraging response see here. Contact with Martha Lane Fox, Champion for Digital Inclusion Champion and her office.
2008
Lord Falkland sponsored a Short Debate at the House of Lords about providing computers and computer training for disabled people in their own homes. The debate was answered by Baroness Morgan of Drefelin in a very favourable way, indicating that the government would certainly take note of the UCanDoIT proposals. We spoke to Mrs Gordon Brown at a reception at 10. Downing Street, sponsored by Leonard Cheshire charity. Meeting in the Atlee Room, in Portcullis House, sponsored by Stephen Timms. 
Mark Harper MP (Conservative Front Bench Spokesman on Disability) came to our office to explore the work of UCanDoIT. A very important meeting with David Lammy MP (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills) which was highly successful. Mr Lammy said immediately that he was convinced of the case for computer training for disabled people in their own homes and at the meeting, called up his senior staff member, Stephen Jackson, and gave instructions for a plan to be put forward in six weeks. Unfortunately, Mr Lammy was then moved to another department and this initiative was not progressed. A meeting with David Morris (Senior Policy Advisor to the Mayor of London – Disability & Deaf issues).
2007
We had successful meetings with Rt. Hon. Stephen Timms, who was extremely interested in the work of UCanDoIT. Meeting with Bruce Calderwood (Director of the Office for Disability issues) followed by a meeting with David Cameron MP.
2006
Meetings with Boris Johnson MP, leading to a sponsored meeting at the Macmillian Room, in Portcullis House, where we were able to demonstrate remote training. We had meetings with Rt. Hon. Ian Duncan Smith regarding the conservative think tank about Disability Policy. We made requests for meetings with Tony Blair and Prince Charles without success! Correspondence with Bill Rammell MP (Minister of State for the Department of Education and Skills).
