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Posted on:
14th October, 2024

GET IN LINE TO GET ONLINE

This week marks the Good Things Foundation's initiative - Get Online Week - the annual digital inclusion campaign running from 14-20 October 2024, and is the largest and longest-running of its kind. This year over 1,000 free community events will help thousands of people and businesses boost their digital skills & confidence across the UK. The Business Board Network is helping to support.

GET IN LINE TO GET ONLINE

Local Business Boards across the country are playing their part to help get people and business online as part of Get Online Week, whether it’s boosting access to health services for older people, getting more people to use online services, or boosting digital capabilities of business and communities, it’s all about fixing the digital divide and increasing digital inclusion.

We are highlighting some of the initiatives that local skills and business leaders are working on to increase digital inclusion and make a real difference to people and business on the ground. Get Online Week – run by the Good Things Foundation - is supported by the Business Board Network.

Business Board Network Chief Executive, Mark Livesey, said:

“If the UK has any chance of increasing its productivity, boosting growth, and improving the lives of people and business, then the need to build digital inclusion and get more people and businesses online is a no brainer. Digital inclusivity does not just benefit individuals, it underpins our economy and can only serve to support the aims of today’s investment summit and Industrial Strategy Green Paper.  

“The examples we see today from local business leaders and councils across the country are exactly the type of concerted action needed if we are to end digital exclusion and get our local economies moving for everyone – and that’s what the Business Board Network is all about.”  

Areas benefitting from initiatives that support digital inclusion include:

  • Lancashire

The skills hub are overseeing a ‘Digital Freedoms’ project which built on the work that they did during the pandemic. Digital Freedoms 50+ is focused on providing older residents with digital devices, data and digital skills to help them cope with the accelerated switch to digital during lockdowns – with a particular focus on enabling Lancashire residents to engage with health services online. Digital Freedoms 18+ is the second iteration of the project. The programme targeted digitally excluded residents, distributing devices with skills support to improve resident's confidence in accessing online services, particularly health related. The primary aim being to improve health and wellbeing, reduce social isolation and improve employability. Nearly a thousand digitally excluded residents were supported through the project.

  • Leicester & Leicestershire

They produced their Leicester and Leicestershire digital inclusion report 2024 - amid increasing use of basic digital skills in the workplace, along with accessing services, learning and using technology in the workplace, the research aimed to develop a fuller understanding of the challenges related to digital exclusion in their area. Some of the findings revealed:

  • Challenges such as access, skills and connectivity have improved since Covid.
  • Some issues with digital poverty remain and impact different age groups in different ways.
  • The most disadvantaged are still at greatest risk of digital poverty.
  • Programmes/training to address upskilling need to be better/differently promoted to expand awareness and access.

A more detailed area mapping of digital skills is underway to help assess area gaps.

  • Norfolk

The current standout project is ‘Tech Skills for Life’ which supports residents living in West Norfolk, North Norfolk and Great Yarmouth. They have a team of Community Tech Coaches that help people to access laptops, tablets and internet data plus give advice about affordable broadband. They also teach people the skills that will make technology easier to use and build confidence around using the internet safely. They work with the NHS and a range of volunteer groups and local community organisations to make sure that everyone can use technology and access essential online services if they want to.

  • Oxfordshire

The Oxfordshire LEP (OxLEP) are running a ‘No Limits’ programme with a £1.7m suite of targeted interventions benefiting Oxfordshire businesses and communities. It provides up to 30 hours of 1-1 employability support, digital training, travel bursaries, Wi-Fi dongles, devices and data top ups across Oxfordshire. The programme has helped over 530 people get support with digital devices across the region.

  • West Yorkshire

Their Digital Inclusion West Yorkshire programme focuses on building the capacity of community organisations to deliver digital skills and access to those who are digitally excluded in local settings, across the West Yorkshire region. They also enable organisations to find and apply for funding and resources to increase digital inclusion.

  • York and North Yorkshire

They are running a digital inclusion project under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. They are providing a digital support package for community, voluntary and public sector organisations to enable them to create digital hubs across North Yorkshire. The package of support includes capital funding for equipment and infrastructure plus revenue funding for the development of the hubs including staffing costs and volunteer recruitment. There is also a training package to upskill volunteers and employees as digital champions. This includes digital essentials training through a licence, wrap around training (train the trainer, mental health first aid) and an ongoing resource library. The aim is to build capacity in the community to reduce social isolation and promote digital inclusion and want the hubs to be sustainable and continue after the funding has ended.

Notes to Eds

  1. Get Online Week is the Good Things Foundation’s annual digital inclusion campaign running from 14-20 October 2024, and is the largest and longest-running of its kind.