Data and devices

Paul Hewitson is the Director of Hartlepower, a community interest company and charity based in Hartlepool who invest in a wide variety of projects for community benefit.

Most recently they have been working on an affordable community broadband offer called Get Connected, providing high quality 4G routers on an unlimited data plan to households who need them.

Paul explains that often those on low incomes are, understandably, wary of entering into long term contracts. By providing an ‘easy in, easy out,’ pay in advance deal (at £5 a week or £20 a month), recipients have the flexibility and reassurance that they can cancel anytime without the exploitative high costs often associated with traditional pay-as-you-go rates. For example, TES magazine estimated the cost of streaming online lessons this way was about £37 a day!

Hartlepower are planning on expanding the project so that other communities can make use of the offer.  By increasing their collective buying power, Paul explains that not only could costs be reduced, but collectively we would be able to call for existing infrastructure and provision to be improved.

The final missing piece is ensuring that there is someone who can help those without the confidence or digital skills make the most of their connection to the internet. Whilst the set-up of the routers is simple, providing additional assistance such as connecting devices and setting up an email ensures individuals receive the wrap-around support they need to confidently get online.

Bolton at Home housing association have invested in 4G Wi-Fi hotspots to connect their residents to the internet on their outdoor sites. Geoff Nuttall, community development officer for Bolton at Home, hopes this will encourage residents to come together and be able to access to the internet at the same time.

Plans for the New Year include running an on-site homework club, a digital skill buddying service and kitting up their four mobile food pantry services with Vodafone wi-fi hotspots to better integrate the services they provide. A member of the team will be there to provide digital support to those who might need it.

Housing providers are just one of the potential organisations who may already be working on digital inclusion in your community. Partnerships and collaboration can be an effective way to provide wrap-around digital support on a scale which can have far-reaching positive impacts.

Social prescribing allows health professionals, schools, and community groups to refer individuals to local, non-clinical services, in order to improve their health and wellbeing.

Providing a connection to the internet, devices, and digital skills support ‘on prescription’ has the potential to link up service providers in the community and have long term positive impacts on the health and wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, notably those who may:

• have long-term health conditions
• need support with their mental health
• be lonely or isolated
• have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.

Michelle Del Rosso from Tonge with the Haulgh Big Local has been working with their local Community Mental Health Service BAND to pilot a social prescribing model for digital inclusion.

Each referral will be tailored around 3 key aspects of digital inclusion:

1. Access to Wi-Fi – purchasing portable Wi-Fi routers for families on a loan basis
2. Access to equipment to get online – providing residents with Wi-Fi ready devices through BAND’s existing IT refurbishment service ‘Fix It’
3. Training and confidence building – providing 1-1 and small group support sessions to help recipients get online

Communities are best placed to respond to many of the challenges of digital exclusion, especially when it comes to identifying and referring vulnerable individuals. Getting in touch with your local clinical commissioning group or mental health service is a good starting point if you are interested in exploring setting up a social prescribing initiative.

We are supporting the #OperationWiFi campaign which began as a response to the pandemic, calling for the creation of the largest free to use open wi-fi network for communities.

It is now a growing alliance of over 100 civil society organisations calling on the national government, main broadband providers and Ofcom to tackle digital exclusion.

The campaign has three key asks:

1. To ensure those on the lowest incomes can get access to data
2. That no person be without a device to access the internet
3. That no person be left behind due to the lack of digital skills

The starting point of the campaign is a push for a ‘CitizenSim,’ allowing the donation of unused data to those who are unable to afford it. A similar project led by telecommunications provider Optus has already been proven successful in Australia.

Nick Gardham, CEO of Community Organisers and one of the key voices behind the campaign, explains the larger the alliance, the stronger the campaign’s voice will be. He recommends that a good starting point is gathering and sharing stories of digital inclusion in your community. You can sign up to support the alliance here.

Reboot is an online toolkit providing practical steps enabling community groups to set up their own device distribution programme. Their free guide explains how you can collect, restore and rehome devices.

Restart have created a list of computer reuse projects across the UK that accept individual donations, for reuse in the local community.

Tech for UK has launched a ‘Lockdown Laptops Map‘ which lists almost 1,000 schools that need laptops for children to work remotely as well as tech refurbishers and a useful guide on how to donate devices.

If you are looking to provide devices to those who need them, a great first step might be to see if there are opportunities to collaborate with existing projects in your area.

Example: W12Together Big Local and ReadyTechGo

W12Together Big Local collaborated with ReadyTechGo, a small not-for-profit organisation who collect, repair and distribute tablets and laptops in London.

ReadyTechGo’s referral process is not means tested – instead they trust well-connected community organisations like W12Together to identify and refer those in need.

ReadyTechGo have a strong social media presence on Twitter and Instagram, focusing on sharing stories of recipients and highlighting the benefits of donating. Many of their donations and partnerships have come from this publicity.

Big Local areas have formed a range of partnerships in order to identify, reach out to and help those who are digitally excluded.

Consider reaching out to local authorities, schools, social workers, businesses, care homes, health centres and local church leaders to link up efforts and maximize impact.

Example: Selby Big Local

Selby Big Local have focused on forming local partnerships in order to address digital exclusion.

They set up a network of different organisations working on digital inclusion including the town and district councils, Age UK, schools, Groundwork and their LTO. By meeting monthly, coordinating efforts and creating a common referral process they were able to maximise impact and provide individuals the bespoke support they needed.

Good Things Foundation have distributed more than 12,000 devices for free through community partners across the UK.

Most of the devices go to members of their Online Centres Network which is made up of over 5,000 grassroots organisations including community groups, libraries and job centres. You can find existing centres here and you can join for free by signing up here.

Device, connectivity and procurement guide

Everyone Connected started as an emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its
aims included buying devices with connectivity and distributing them in the community.
Recipients were people who were experiencing digital and/or social exclusion.

The project created a legacy of knowledge. This included information around buying, training, distribution and the processes surrounding these stages. This document provides a summary of that knowledge. It is being shared so that communities can use it alongside their own knowledge, resources and networks to address digital exclusion in their own area.

Devices Procurement Guide

ComputerAid are a non-profit who provide affordable, high-quality, refurbished laptops and desktops to schools, universities, NGOs and community centres around the world.

Most of their donations come from corporate partners, which are refurbished in Manchester at a very high standard. Non-profits (including Big Local areas) can then purchase these devices at a low cost.

They are in high demand at the moment but if you are interested in receiving computers from them you can apply here. Below are the costs and specs of the machines they supply:

• iCore3 to iCore 7 processor (3rd to 8th gen)
• 4 to 16 GB RAM
• 250 to 1 TB HDD / 128 to 512 SSD
• Windows 10 Pro
• 19” to 26” monitors for desktops
• £55 to £120 for a full PC kit (base unit, monitor, keyboard, mouse)
• £95 to £180 for a laptop
• Only branded and grade A machines (UK standards)