Cambridgeshire ACRE is working with Connecting Cambridgeshire, the County’s Broadband Partnership on a pilot project aimed at addressing one of the most pressing challenges in rural communities: digital inclusion. Through the pilot, we’re going to trial using our Community Hubs Network to empower rural residents with the digital skills they need to get along in our increasingly connected world.
What is digital inclusion?
Digital inclusion ensures that individuals and communities have access to the technologies, skills, and confidence needed to participate fully in modern society. It encompasses three critical elements:
- Access: Reliable internet and affordable devices.
- Skills: The ability to use digital tools effectively.
- Confidence: Overcoming fear or mistrust of technology.
For those who achieve digital inclusion, the opportunities are endless – from accessing healthcare and education to managing finances and connecting socially.
What is digital exclusion?
Digital exclusion occurs when someone lacks the means, skills, or motivation to engage with digital technologies. The consequences can be significant, leading to:
• Social isolation.
• Barriers to employment.
• Limited access to essential services.
• A widening gap between those who can and cannot benefit from digital advancements.
In rural areas like Cambridgeshire, these challenges are magnified by patchy broadband coverage and fewer opportunities for digital training.
The scale of digital inclusion and exclusion: key statistics
Digital exclusion remains a significant issue in the UK:
- 6% of UK adults have never used the internet (ONS, 2023).
- 11 million people lack the essential digital skills for everyday life (Lloyds Bank, 2023).
- In rural areas, up to 20% of households struggle with poor internet connectivity, compared to 14% in urban areas (Ofcom, 2023).
- Older adults are disproportionately affected: 42% of over-75s are not online (ONS, 2023).
Conversely, digital inclusion brings measurable benefits:
- Digitally included individuals save an average of £444 per year by accessing better deals online.
- Those with digital skills are 40% more likely to secure employment opportunities.
What we’re doing to promote digital inclusion
At Cambridgeshire ACRE, we believe digital inclusion is fundamental to reducing inequalities and improving rural lives. Our new pilot project is focusing on delivering a practical, localised solution to empower residents. We will be:
1. Using our Community Hubs Network and recruiting volunteer Digital Champions
We’ve chosen three of our amazing Community Hubs to partner with to deliver this pilot. They will be provided with digital devices to allow them to support residents with getting online. Each Hub will have a number of volunteer digital champions who will:
• Work one-to-one with residents to build their digital skills.
• Provide tailored support, from setting up email accounts to navigating online services.
• Offer guidance in a friendly, approachable manner to build confidence.
2. Collaborating with local partners
We are partnering with Connecting Cambridgeshire and Digital Unite to deliver this pilot. Connecting Cambridgeshire are providing the digital devices for the Hubs to use and we’ve joined Digital Unite’s Digital Champions Network to access the training and skills that volunteers will need to become confident digital champions.
3. Advocating for better connectivity
We continue to advocate for improved broadband infrastructure across rural Cambridgeshire to ensure no one is left behind.
4. Sharing success stories
To inspire others, we’ll showcase stories of those we support during the pilot. There’s nothing like hearing from someone like you to make you want to take action yourself.
5. Raising awareness
By sharing practical tips and encouraging conversations about digital inclusion, we aim to:
• Inspire more residents to take their first steps online. To this end, we’ll be posting Digital Unite’s free digital skills guides to our website (coming in the New Year).
• Encourage communities to recognise and tackle digital exclusion.
How you can get involved
Watch this space! We’ll be reporting back on how our pilot progresses and if we can prove that the Hubs infrastructure and volunteer network are a good method of overcoming digital exclusion then we hope to roll out a larger scale project next year.
By addressing digital exclusion, we are not just helping individuals connect to the internet, we are opening doors to opportunity, community and independence.
