Liverpool is a city recognised worldwide for its heritage in music, sport and culture, earned across decades of success on the global stage. Today, however, some residents are facing a very modern problem: digital deprivation.
For more than a third of Liverpool City Region’s (LCR) neighbourhoods – which fall within the top 10% most deprived in the UK – digital exclusion is making it difficult to access the services needed to fend off inequalities across education, jobs, healthcare and housing.
In total, The University of Liverpool’s Heseltine Institute estimates that this issue is affecting more than 325,000 working age individuals in the area. Meanwhile, 50% of households with children in LCR do not meet the newly established Minimum Digital Living Standard.
Fear, uncertainty and doubt: why some people don't have digital skills
No matter why people don’t have digital skills, the Good Things Foundation - one of Vodafone's everyone.connected charity partners - helps people learn the basics, so they can make the most of the online world.
To help close this digital divide, Liverpool City Region has launched its Digital Inclusion Initiative. The scheme aims to get more than 4,500 local people online by the end of 2024 with the help of various strategic partners:
- Vodafone: Connectivity has been provided by Vodafone in the form of 40GB of free monthly data, calls and texts for six months.
- Lloyds Banking Group: The UK’s largest retail bank is helping to improve access and ability around financial and digital skills, with training provided through its Lloyds Bank Academy.
- Assurant: Business services company Assurant is providing financial backing for the initiative as part of its aim to help connect the world and improve customer experience.
- Furniture Research Company: The local charity, which works to raise awareness of furniture poverty, is providing logistical resources and expertise.
To date, 1,400 have already benefitted from free tablets, in-person online training, and access to internet data, with users receiving a MiFi dongle that can act as a portable hotspot for an entire home.
This work is part of LCR’s wider Digital Inclusion Network, which brings together 160 organisations across the region to support an overarching digital inclusion agenda.
“We believe that everyone should have access to the benefits connectivity brings, which is why tackling digital exclusion sits at the heart of our business. It’s why initiatives like this are so important, and we are very proud of our partnership with Liverpool City, which is helping to bring connectivity to more people across the region.”
Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer, Vodafone UK
Beyond the Digital Inclusion Initiative, Vodafone recently teamed up with long-time partner Good Things Foundation to highlight a ‘connectivity gap’ facing the 5 million people who are currently without 5G in the UK.
By unveiling a 3D artwork in the heart of London, the organisations drew attention to the importance of bringing connectivity to these digitally-excluded communities, many of whom are located in rural or deprived communities.
Should Vodafone’s proposed merger with Three UK go through, the new company has committed to delivering nationwide 5G Standalone to more than 99% of the UK population.
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