£11.7 million in funding is to be granted to 80 digital skills and support schemes under the newly launched Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund, designed to help those at risk of being left behind by digital to access online services.
Funding is also being split across Scotland (£764,020), Wales (£400,368), and Northern Ireland (£267,249), to “ensure this is a UK-wide digital inclusion drive”, the government notes. A list of funding recipients can be found here, covering organisations such as Age UK, Good Things Foundation, Sheffield United Community Foundation, to Women’s Aid Federation of England.
One of the projects run by Age UK is aimed at supporting older people through events and skills development sessions to learn how to use the NHS App to manage their health.
The fund fulfils one of the actions set out in the government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan, which was published earlier this year with the overriding aim of overcoming digital exclusion. Also outlined in the plan were actions including piloting a device donation scheme, repurposing government laptops for those in need, and increasing the number of services using GOV.UK One Login.
Liz Lloyd, Minister for Digital Inclusion, said: “Being online is something many of us take for granted, but for millions it could mean a new job opportunity, quicker access to healthcare or a lifeline to the local community. This fund will both empower community organisations to help those most at risk of being left behind get the skills, access and confidence they need – while also informing how we can help even more people in the future.”
To date, the Action Plan has received industry pledges from companies including Google for delivering intensive digital skills training, Vodafone for connectivity and tech donations, and BT for social tariffs for digitally excluded households.
Wider trend: Digital inclusion
Earlier this year, the Welsh Government published a prior information notice ahead of a procurement for a supplier who can deliver on the Digital Inclusion Wales contract, in an effort to reduce barriers to access to digital devices and online services. The contract will reportedly focus on delivering a national bilingual programme of activity, supporting digital inclusion across the region. According to the notice, this will be achieved by offering advice and support, mapping digital inclusion throughout Wales and creating digital inclusion resources. They also want to offer support for “bringing public, third and private sector stakeholders together to share knowledge and best practice, provide strategic leadership and take forward tangible cross-sectoral actions”.
Lincolnshire’s Health and Care Digital Inclusion Strategy outlined priorities for 2025 – 2028 covering access to devices and data, accessibility and ease of using tech, access to services, skills and capability, beliefs and trust, and leadership and partnerships. The ICB commits to activities such as offering free public computer maps, operating a device bank with loan and replacement schemes, and running a digital directory for schemes across Lincolnshire. Digital skills and confidence will be developed for staff to allow them to signpost to services and resources, volunteers with digital skills will be made available at community hubs, and work will be done to improve awareness of current schemes and digital support available for subsidised data, data banks for free wifi, training, and social tariffs.
Sussex ICB’s Digital Inclusion Strategic Approach for 2025 – 2027 has shared the system’s commitments to promoting digital inclusion, along with measures indicative of success. Shaped by residents, NHS teams, councils, and community organisations, the approach reflects on designing inclusive services and addressing challenges people may face in accessing them. The system outlines plans to collaborate with partners for fairer access, to build skills, to raise awareness of the impact of digital exclusion, to innovate and co-design solutions with diverse communities, to streamline platforms and plan for the future of digital innovations, and to use data effectively, building trust and transparency.
