Last week saw the launch of the new 100% Digital Leeds model for a community-based approach to digital inclusion. The model sets out the stages and steps that can be followed by council officers who wish to adapt and apply the approach in their locality to develop and implement their own digital inclusion interventions. The webinar was viewed by over 100 people from across the UK, many of whom lead digital inclusion for their local authority.
The model for a community-based approach to digital inclusion is now available to download on the Digital Inclusion Toolkit.
A community-based approach to digital inclusion
The 100% Digital Leeds community-based approach to digital inclusion brings together key partners to design digital inclusion interventions based on the needs of a particular community. A community could be a geographic area, such as a ward or a town, or a community of interest, such as unpaid carers, older people, or people with learning disabilities. The approach uses and builds upon existing strengths and assets to create an intervention that is bespoke, sustainable, and able to scale and flex in response to changing needs. The resulting interventions are embedded within the existing support mechanisms around that community, strengthening the place to empower the person.
For the first time, this model sets out the 100% Digital Leeds community-based approach to digital inclusion as a series of stages and steps so that all councils can adopt, adapt, and apply the principles in their area.
“This is a clear and practical model which we have been able to adapt from a city to an extensive rural setting successfully. Whilst this model covers every aspect of implementing and enabling the community-based approach, you can also use it as a ‘pick and mix’ to just use the elements you need – it’s very flexible.”
Debbie Fagan, Digital Inclusion (Health) Officer for East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Sharing learning and expertise
100% Digital Leeds is one of the most successful digital inclusion programmes in the country. The programme was initiated by a Leeds City Council Scrutiny Board inquiry in 2015 and the council continues to invest in a permanent team, part of the Integrated Digital Service (IDS) at Leeds City Council and Leeds Health and Care Partnership NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board. The team works with over 200 organisations, teams, settings, and services, and has brought over £2million into the city, increasing the capacity of third sector organisations and building the digital inclusion ecosystem across Leeds.
“We must work together across all organisations and sectors to ensure digital is about more than just deploying new technology. We must ensure that everyone is included, engaged, motivated, skilled, confident, equipped and involved in our collective digital journey. I’m immensely proud of the outcomes that the 100% Digital Leeds team is generating for our city.”
Leonardo Tantari, chief digital and information officer for Leeds City Council and the NHS (Leeds) West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board
A Local Government Association Digital Pathfinder Project
The 100% Digital Leeds team was funded to write and publish the model as part of the Local Government Association (LGA) Digital Pathfinders Programme, designed to support councils seeking to innovate and develop pioneering initiatives to advance digital inclusion, digital connectivity, and cyber security.
“In recent years this model has developed into an example of best practice in the sector, strengthening the outcome of digital inclusion initiatives for residents, partners and communities in Leeds and beyond. Hence, why we funded Leeds City Council to utilise their expertise to scale a model to other councils that enables them to replicate and build a community of support that is integral for residents to benefit from being online.”
Tom Denman, Productivity Adviser – Digital Innovation, Security and Behavioural Insights, Local Government Association
The model for a community-based approach to digital inclusion is now available to download on the Digital Inclusion Toolkit.