Leeds City Council
100% Digital Leeds is the Leeds City Council led initiative working to improve digital inclusion across the city and make Leeds the most digitally inclusive city for everyone. To achieve this, we are working with intermediary organisations across third sector, public sector and health and care.
100% Digital Leeds works with these organisations to help embed digital inclusion into what they already do, building their capacity to support the people they work with.
We want everyone to understand how digital can benefit them, gain the skills and confidence they need to make the most of digital, and get connected. We want 100% of people in Leeds to have the opportunity to get online and to know where they can go to get the help that best meets their needs.
The fundamental principles of the 100% Digital Leeds approach are:
• Convene community based assets to ensure that no-one is ‘hard to reach’.
• Connect people to their communities and a wider circle of care and support.
• Move to a whole system approach that enables people to independently look after themselves and improve their lives.
• Work together to design the right interventions with professionals and practitioners, staff and volunteers and people with lived experience.
Chapters by Leeds City Council
Resources
Links to statistics, studies, and other literature which could be useful to anyone looking to better understand the causes and effects of digital inclusion and exclusion.
Starting a digital inclusion programme
There is no right or wrong way to get started with a digital inclusion programme or project. We’ve got 100% Digital Leeds examples to share, and would like to hear what’s worked for you.
Defining and mapping digital inclusion
There’s no single indicator to predict digital inclusion, but it’s possible to create a picture from different data sources. Here’s what the 100% Digital Leeds programme uses.
Difficulties in defining digital inclusion and exclusion
Defining and mapping digital inclusion is hard, and two people living on the same street can have very different needs. Here’s an example to illustrate this.
Digital Health Hubs
The Digital Health Hub model works in partnership with NHS, creating strong links between community organisations, local GP practices, and Social Prescribing teams.
Barriers to digital inclusion
Understanding the barriers that people face to becoming digitally included
Tablet lending with Nari Ekta
A case study on using the 100% Digital tablet lending scheme and Digital Champions to help Nari Exta integrate digital into their work supporting unemployed BME women and girls.
Securing investment for a digital inclusion project
Once you’ve understood the local need, there’s a question of funding the work, both to get started and over the long term. Here’s how we’ve done this in Leeds.
Evaluating a digital inclusion project
Funders will want to know the impact of their investment, and you’ll want to know what’s worked well and not so well. Here’s the Leeds experience, and we’re keen to hear your feedback.
Creating a Digital Champions network
Digital Champions help to reach the digitally excluded in their communities by advocating the benefits of digital, signposting people to free resources, and supporting people to access training. Here’s our guide to setting up a scheme in your area.
Tablet lending schemes
A tablet lending scheme like the one set up by 100% Digital Leeds can be a way to help individuals and organisations overcome the barrier of access to devices and connectivity.
Supporting Leeds Care Homes during the pandemic
Through the support of 100% Digital Leeds, Care Home staff have now become Digital Champions, this has enabled them to inspire and engage residents to take their first steps online, supporting self-management and connecting them with friends and family whilst in isolation.