We would value your involvement in a one day workshop in Brussels with leaders and experts in their field to spark discussion and action on issues around ICT related skills and training for carers (both informal and formal). This event aims to play an important role by bringing together partners keen to drive a European wide approach to exploiting use of technologies and digital skills training for carers and embedding this in a systematic way. The aim is to make this relevant and accessible across for all carers with a shift towards personalised learning and delivery of citizen centric services.The event will look at the increasing significance and opportunities of digital technologies to support carers in their caring role, as well as the longer term health & wellbeing benefits, highlighted through specific initiatives. It will focus on what needs to be done to ensure that carers have the support and skills to bridge the digital divide, identify the gaps and how these can be addressed and by doing so enable carers to achieve their full potential as well as meet their caring responsibilities.Please note that this is an invitation only workshop inviting partners from health and social care including  - care organisations / associations, health and care providers, training providers; commissioners and strategic leaders; skills agencies; research and academia; third sector providers; policy makers; digital inclusion officers and those involved in service delivery, performance management and policy.Outline Programme Wednesday 26 March 20149.15Registration and coffee9.45Welcome from Malcolm Harbour MEP9.50Introduction and review of aims Chair: Richard Tuffs, ERRIN (European Regions and Innovation Network)9.55Setting the scene: Meeting the New Demands of Health Care for an inclusive society: Magdalena Szwochertowska, Research Programme Officer, European Commission – Inclusion, Skills and Youth10.00Keynote – Drivers for Change (Europe Digital Agenda 2020)10.15Role of Technology in Care  - Challenges and OpportunitiesDr Verina Waights, Open UniversityMaking a difference – Lighthouse initiativesDISCOVER: digital skills for carers  - Heike Schuster-James, Birmingham City CouncilIT Piloterna & IT Lyftnet – Martin Berg & Sandra Goll-Rasmussen Nielsen, Göteborgsregionens KommunalförbundCarers+ & CareNet – Thomas Arbouet, Iperia 11.15Stakeholder perspectives  - Carers and care providers11.30Introduction to table activities & discussion11.35Working groups12.50Feedback13.10Review and actions13.15Lunch and networking14.15CloseTo register for this workshop please send an email to info[at]greaterbirmingham.eu with your name and organisation details confirming your attendance. If you are unable to attend, we would be grateful if you could nominate another contact to attend in your place