Doing more for digital inclusion

The coronavirus pandemic made it clear how much some people are excluded from online sources of help. Use this page to learn about steps you can take to better include those you work with and for.

The first and most important thing is to ask people what barriers they face when it comes to using online information or services. It’s very important to check any assumptions you may have by doing research.

Be prepared to help people deal with a wide range of issues.

Access to technology or data (internet connection)

7 million people did not have home internet access in 2019 (Ofcom, 2019) because:

• they’ve no smartphones, computers or laptops (devices)
• they’re using very old devices
• they share the same device with others in the family
• they can’t afford data
• internet connectivity in their area is very poor.

Essential digital skills

Based on government standards for essential digital skills, 9m people struggle in one or more of these five areas (Lloyds Bank, 2020).

• Communicating, collaborating and sharing things online.
• Finding, managing and storing information securely.
• Registering for services, buying, selling and applying for things.
• Finding solutions when things go wrong online.
• Being safe and legal online.

Accessibility

Digital services and activities are not accessible to everyone. Most commonly:

• software and tools don’t meet the right accessibility standards so they don’t work with screen readers or other assistive technology
• having to use technology that isn’t suitable or hasn’t been properly explained causes anxiety.

Lack of confidence

Even when people have skills and can get online, they may not be able to fully benefit from digital activities because:

• they don’t believe their skills are good enough
• they’re worried that they’ll miss out on face-to-face opportunities by doing things online
• they worry about their privacy and safety online
• they can’t take part fully because there’s no support to raise their accessibility needs.

Once you’ve decided which barriers the people you support are facing you can decide what kind of digital inclusion project you need to run.

Making devices available can make a big difference to the people most in need. Here are some questions to ask yourself before you get started.

• Who can we persuade to give us tablets or laptops or phones (devices)?
• Would our supporters find it easier to give money?
• Where can we buy refurbished devices without getting ripped off?
• How do we make sure the devices are clean - with no old data or dodgy software?
• How many people can we help - do we need to track what they do with the gift?
• Can we also get cheap or free internet access to go with them?

In most areas you’ll find groups offering digital skills training and confidence building online or face to face. Can you team up with them?

Many across the UK are registered as online network centres with the Good Things Foundation. Find out if there’s one close by. Use the interactive map of online network centres.

Groups may also be running digital inclusion activities that are not registered. In most areas there’s at least one organisation that focuses on knowing all about voluntary groups and charities in your area.

• Some are part of Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) ACRE map of organisations.
• Others belong to NAVCA. It's a national body that helps charities and voluntary groups deliver essential services. NAVCA map of organisations.

These are great for people who can get online and who find a semi-formal approach to learning useful. They can pick a topic, receive an explanation and practice doing the activity.

Designed by Good Things Foundation, Learn My Way is a website of 32 free online courses for beginners. Try Learn My Way courses.

For those who’ve mastered the basics, there’s Make it Click. Also designed by Good Things Foundation, it’s a collection of free online learning resources. Make it Click resources.

Or, help people check what they already know with a toolkit, produced in Scotland by SCVO.

The Essential Digital Skills Toolkit.

Online versions of activities people love can be important as their first step to digital inclusion. It also helps to build people’s confidence in online opportunities. Think about what you could do.

Here are some good case studies for inspiration.

• Shared Digital Guides has examples of digital tools (software) people use and how they create activities, including digital inclusion projects.
• The Good Things Foundation has how to guides for running online activities.
• SCVO also has a digital inclusion planning guide with case studies.

Digital Champions help others to build confidence and skills to get online. You don’t need to be a digital expert to be a Digital Champion, but you do need to be confident in your own digital skills.

You must also have the patience, enthusiasm and passion to help others. Champions can be staff, existing volunteers or new volunteers who come from the people you help.

The support that's most useful will depend on the type of project you most want to plan. Here are some places to start.

• For inspiration and ideas go to the Digital Champions Network.
• To train your Digital Champions try Learn My Way for Digital Champions.

Try NCVO's guidance on working with volunteers.

Older people, or disabled people of any age, can get free help from Ability Net. Their volunteers, across the UK, provide free IT support. They have guides and can help with software for people with impairments. Find out more via this link AbilityNet volunteer support service.