How to include the digitally excluded

Tech for good, tech for all

Considering such stark news and difficult realities, charities are working to improve the situation by changing the landscape. The Good Things Foundation is rolling out the Connecting Families programme this summer. It is intending to supply over 2000 devices, internet access and support to disadvantaged that would traditionally be digitally excluded.

Good Things Foundation have already helped over 400 families with devices and internet access to access essential services digitally. The initiative has helped families to access food vouchers online and more.

Access to affordable tech is proving vital for charities to reach and support their service users. Working to include the digitally excluded has been particularly transformative for some charities in the wake of the pandemic.

Extending services enormously

At the beginning of lockdown, going digital was intended as a temporary measure for several charities. Although, many charities have found that moving online has extended their reach and allowed them to help more people, more extensively and save money, too.

Soundabout, a charity using music to help people with severe learning disabilities, has discovered greater demand for their work online than in the physical world. Prior to the pandemic, the charity helped groups of eight people, with their carers, in face-to-face sessions. They have harnessed the power of Facebook Live to reach over 12000 people, vastly increasing their reach and profoundly extending their ability to help people.

Scunthorpe and District Mind have found that remote video has been hugely beneficial to them, too. Remote video sessions have enabled them to help many more people, essentially reaching people in rural areas that might otherwise have struggled to access help and support.

One of the largest effects of lockdown has been people being isolated from accessing support in person. By harnessing the power of digital tech, these charities have transformed their operations and changed the lives of their service users.

Widening horizons

Multiple charities have been including people that would traditionally be digitally excluded by pioneering innovative solutions. Whereas most digital services require users to learn new skills on their own, and can be intimidating, Age UK are using their digital platform to provide free guides for older people. They have adapted their services for older people to embrace digital tech in a way that is most relevant for them.

Despite high numbers of digital exclusion, charities are embracing digital tech in innovative ways to reach their service users. With support from the government and the launch of new schemes to get digital tech to traditionally digitally excluded people, charities can continue their good work and champion progress both online and offline.