Millions of people in the UK don’t have the basic digital skills they need to thrive in today’s world. In 2019 a collaboration across the public, private and voluntary sector formed the East Riding Digital Divide subgroup  The group's purpose was to investigate the main challenges of digital exclusion within the East Riding, including:

• Access -lack of connectivity or affordability
• Skills - not having the ability to use the internet in everyday life including using the internet safely
• Confidence -  in oneself, or trust in technology
• Motivation - – not seeing why using the internet could be relevant and helpful

Group members would connect their own resources and learnings to share and develop a range of accessible solutions and recommendations to tackle the issue with the region.   See 'Digital Community Champion project below'

East Riding Digital Divide subgroup members:

• East Riding CCG
• East Riding Police Crime Commissioner Representative
• ERVAS
• East Riding of Yorkshire Council
• Hull & East Riding Timebank
• HEY Smile Foundation
• Humber & Wolds Rural Action
• KCOM
• Sight Support
• Two Ridings Community Foundation

Priorities:  

1. Facilitate collective action, building on existing resources and experiences
2. Develop digital skills and confidence within communities and organisations 
3. Develop ICT services, infrastructure and equipment to address the digital divide
4. Provide greater insight into emerging needs and solutions 

Pilot Project - Community Digital Champion 

The ‘Community Digital Champions’ project is enabling community-led digital training to improve resident access to online services. This test and learn project is being run in partnership with HEYSmile Foundation working with teams from East Riding Adult Education and Digital Teams.

In late 2021 community groups in the East Riding were invited to bid for funding of up to £5,000 to become a pilot digital hub to develop a resource within their community where people can come in to learn how to access and use computers. The successful pilots were chosen based on population, current access to online services, the scale of the challenge and what opportunities existed to improve access and facilities. 

Known in their local community, these groups have well established relationships with their communities based on trust which enable them to engage those who would not normally engage with public services. As well as offering digital access many of these 'hubs' provide a wide range of services and support spanning topics like employment and debt advice, health and wellbeing, community cafes and specific functions, such as running a food bank. 

The pilot projects are: 

1. Love Driffield (Driffield)
2. Christ Church Renew Hub (Bridlington)
3. North Newbald Village Hall
4. Hedon Methodist Church (Hedon)
5. Snaith & District Community Sports & Leisure (Snaith)

Assistance is being given to these community groups, including:

• the provision of training for volunteers from the council’s Adult Education team
• advice on the type of equipment and wi-fi connectivity they need
• information about the type of facilities needed to make these welcoming and accessible spaces

Key outcomes include the following: 

• Residents learn the skills to improve their confidence when going online so that they can support themselves and others with their digital experience
• Community facilities are developed to provide a welcoming and supportive learning environment
• Community groups can help to deliver essential digital skills training in community settings
• Clear signposting is in place so that residents know where and how training can be accessed
• A catalogue of training resources developed and is easily accessible
• Where wi-fi connectivity is not already in place in community settings, a process developed to provide a recommended approach and a guide to installation costs
• These pilot schemes help to reconnect the most vulnerable within their communities and reducing digital inequalities

Each pilot is at a different stage of development, however now that lockdown restrictions have lifted progress is being made and the expectation is these sites will be up fully up and and running by April 2022

Case Studies

Love Driffield

Digital learning for the community:

1. First steps - resources to support a basic understanding and how to keep safe 
2. Next steps- guidance to get the best out of your computer and social media
3. Another level - ideas to expand learning and start building IT solutions

Solutions to support accessibility

Sight support - Home Visiting Technology Service AbilityNet supports anyone living with any disability or impairment to use technology to achieve their goals at home, at work and in education.

Voluntary Sector resources to maintain equipment and improve productivity

Charity Digital