We may live in a truly digital world but not everyone is connected online. Many of our residents are living in digital poverty, without the means to access online services. The Government has recently announced a Call for Evidence in response to a Digital Inclusion Action Plan and we need your feedback.
Think back to this time five years ago and the early days of lockdown at the start of the pandemic. Families squeezed around dining tables with parents catching up on e-mails, sat alongside their children, trying to navigate online lessons, with that all too frequent shout of “You’re on mute!”
The pandemic exposed families struggling to have enough (or in some cases any) devices to enable online connection and access to services that many of us take for granted in an online world.
Getting back to the Digital Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), which can be accessed here:
Digital Inclusion Action Plan – GOV.UK
The Government plans to tackle digital exclusion with a particular focus on five groups of people:
- young people
- older people
- people with disabilities
- people currently out of work
- low-income households
Can you think of any other groups who should feature in this priority list? Our DDWG felt that there is room to add neuro divergent members of society.
The Action Plan is building on a long term approach to reach everyone across the country, working in partnership with industry, charities, devolved governments and local authorities. We are developing a response to this Call for Evidence and we would very much welcome your thoughts, views and suggestions which link to a series of questions.
Leaving your comments couldn’t be easier. Simply click below to open the Google form and leave your comments in the text box:
https://forms.gle/sS9gicsiD7LEXKd16
Staffordshire Chambers’ of Commerce is playing its part in trying to bridge the digital divide and this is thanks to the feedback and input of our Digital Divide Working Group (DDWG), chaired by Charlie Houston-Brown.
Our DDWG is an offshoot from our main Chamber Digital forum and thanks to the efforts of this cohort of local businesses, we have established a CIC – ‘Re-boot IT for All’, which is receiving donations of unwanted items of tech kit, such as laptops, tablets and mobile phones.
All devices are securely wiped and re-purposed, ready to be handed over to community groups who are supporting those members of society living in digital poverty. You can find out more about Re-boot IT for All through the website:
Reboot IT For All – Bridging the Digital Divide for a Connected Community
Any unwanted items of kit can be donated at our Commerce House office (ST1 5BE). We can also come to your premises and collect from you. Just drop me a line and we’ll make the arrangements:
declan.riddell@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
We’re always keen to welcome more DDWG members and you don’t have to be a Chamber member. If you have a passion for creating a more digitally inclusive world, you’ll be very welcome to join us. Meetings take place on a hybrid basis, so you can join in person or join online.
