NGOs respond to government Digital Inclusion Action Plan
Community and not-for-profit groups have widely celebrated the government’s launch of its long-awaited Digital Inclusion Action Plan. The government published the strategy in February, and welcomed comments and feedback from organisations until earlier this month. Some groups have published their response online and alongside widespread praise, they gave recommendations for strengthening the work, which we cover below.
Gov.ukGood Things Foundation response
Digital inclusion charity Good Things Foundation highlighted opportunities for innovative thinking, and increased cross-sectoral working through the government plan. Their key recommendations included using critical moments to build public awareness, such as the roll out of 5G, and investing in the National Digital Inclusion Network - a network of community hubs across the country. They also gave recommendations on specific areas including skills, access, confidence.
Good Things FoundationAge UK response
Charity Age UK welcomed the opportunity for the plan to support older people, but also emphasised that actions should include preserving offline access via telephone lines and in-person services. Their recommendations range from ensuring older people have a legal right to be able to access all public services offline to making sure that their views and experiences inform the design of services throughout.
Age UKJangala response
Jangala – a not-for-profit providing emergency internet access – identified three key gaps in the action plan: a focus on groups more likely to be digitally excluded, solutions for short-medium term connectivity, and recognition of the role grassroots community organisations play. They also highlighted their recent research report Digital Lifelines, which looked at internet access for those in temporary accommodation.
JangalaThe National Leaving Care Benchmarking Forum response
Young people who have experienced care are particularly at risk of digital exclusion due to cost of living pressures and other barriers. The NLCBF – a network of local authority leaving care teams in England – outlined three key asks for the group: a national offer of free WiFi; a national offer around access to digital services; and integration of these offers in Local Authority support for care leavers.
National Leaving Care Benchmarking ForumWelsh Government plans new digital inclusion programme
In other news, the Welsh Government has announced a plan for a new national programme of digital inclusion advice and support. The programme will include a number of initiatives, including mapping digital inclusion provision throughout Wales, advice through regional and thematic skills advisers, and the creation and updating of relevant resources.
UKAuthorityHow one London Digital Inclusion Hub is tackling digital exclusion among people experiencing homelessness
People experiencing homelessness are often digitally excluded, facing multiple barriers to getting online and using online services. Providence Row, a homelessness specialist provider based in Tower Hamlets, is one of the grassroots hubs leading the way on tackling the issue on the ground. This blog on the website for the LOTI, London’s local government innovation team, outlines Providence Row’s approach.
LOTI
