100% Digital Leeds is preparing to publish our model for a community-based approach to digital inclusion, so that other councils can adopt the principles to develop and implement their own inclusion interventions. The model sets out the stages and steps that can be followed by council officers leading digital inclusion who wish to adapt and apply the approach in their locality.
The 100% Digital Leeds team, part of the Integrated Digital Service (IDS) at Leeds City Council and Leeds Health and Care Partnership NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, 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. The model is the result of a 12-month project and will be published in early December.
“No single organisation can solve the issue of digital exclusion. The 100% Digital Leeds Community-based Approach is the ideal framework to demonstrate the great progress that can be achieved when we work together.”
Melanie Rawles, Libraries Development Manager for Plymouth City Council and Coordinator of Plymouth Digital Inclusion Network
The launch webinar
The model will be launched on Thursday 8th December with a 30-minute lunchtime webinar which will be an opportunity for local authorities to hear more about the approach, how they might benefit from adopting the approach, and where they can access the model when published. The webinar will be held on Zoom and free tickets are bookable at Eventbrite.
The webinar is hosted by 100% Digital Leeds in partnership with the LGA. Attendees will also hear from three local authorities about their impressions of the usability of the approach, elements of the approach they have already managed to adopt, and the positive impact they have already seen as a result. As part of the development process 100% Digital Leeds ran a series of workshops with five local authorities with different geographies and demographics, and different staffing and resource capacities, ensuring the approach is adaptable to the needs of different local authorities and the content transferable.
“By harnessing the expertise of the 100% Digital Leeds programme to create this model, the LGA and Leeds City Council want to demonstrate the importance of building knowledge and understanding across the local government digital inclusion landscape in order to support better outcomes for residents and communities.”
Tom Denman, Local Government Association
The community-based approach to digital inclusion
The 100% Digital Leeds community-based approach 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.
“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. As a lone Digital Inclusion Officer covering a large area, this model has become my constant ‘go-to’, and whilst we don’t have a team, it always gives me practical deliverable support.”
Debbie Fagan, Digital Inclusion (Health) Officer for East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Digital inclusion at Leeds City Council
Initiated by a Leeds City Council Scrutiny Board inquiry in 2015, the council continues to invest in a permanent team to lead the digital inclusion programme and drive the digital inclusion agenda across the city. The 100% Digital Leeds team works with over 200 organisations, teams, settings, and services. To date the team has brought over £2million of external funding into the city, an amount that has gone directly to third sector organisations, supporting capacity and building the digital inclusion ecosystem across Leeds. As well as speaking at dozens of national conferences, roundtables, and forums, the 100% Digital Leeds team has shared aspects of the approach with almost 100 councils on an individual basis.
“It is often said that no one should be left behind as we advance technically and technologically, but this does not happen by magic. It requires sustained investment to ensure there is consistent leadership and focus on digital inclusion as a city priority. I’m immensely proud of the outcomes that the 100% Digital team is generating for our city. Their work is imperative and fundamental to meet the ambitions of Leeds.”
Leonardo Tantari, Chief Digital and Information Officer, Leeds City Council and NHS (Leeds) West Yorkshire ICB
Holbeck Together have worked in partnership with the 100% Digital Leeds team for over 2 years, developing their digital inclusion offer to better support their communities in South Leeds.
As an organisation they are well placed within Holbeck to support the needs of their service users. They take a person-centred approach in providing a variety of services, activities, and opportunities for people to get involved in locally. Many activities are specifically for older people, with others for younger people and some for all ages.
Developing their digital inclusion offer
Holbeck Together became a Digital Health Hub in 2021, working with 100% Digital Leeds and the Beeston and Middleton Local Care Partnership to increase digital health participation for people within the community. They are 1 of 16 Digital Health Hubs within South Leeds.
As part of their journey to becoming a Digital Health Hub, Holbeck Together identified the barriers faced by the local community in accessing and using online information and tools. Through the support of 100% Digital Leeds, Holbeck Together have worked to tackle these barriers:
Knowledge to make best use of the devices they own
Confidence to access online services
Cost of getting online
Understanding digital language and terminology
Delivering digital support
With successful funding Holbeck Together have employed a digital inclusion worker, Sean Flannigan, to coordinate, develop and deliver their digital inclusion offer. Sean has developed their service offer to include 1-1 digital support sessions, group sessions and drop in’s to really support those with low digital skills and confidence.
Through the partnership of 100% Digital Leeds and Hubbub UK, Holbeck Together received smartphones with free data which they gifted to their members. This has enabled many to have access to the internet and be able to call friends and family, which has had a huge impact on their lives.
Within existing coffee mornings and group activities, members have supported each other in using the smartphones, sharing which apps they like and providing peer-support to build confidence and reduce fears around the technology. They also purchased a number of tablets to lend to members and use within social sessions to support people to develop their skills and see the range of things they could do online.
Joining the Older People’s Digital Inclusion network has strengthened Holbeck Together’s partnerships with other organisations across the city, collaborating on the best approaches and sharing learning and resources. Developing session plans on searching for the best energy suppliers, applying for a bus pass online, ordering prescriptions, and looking how to shop and bank online safely.
Impact
K. visited Holbeck Together in January with a phone that he had no idea how to use. Over the following weeks we started with the basics and moved onto messaging and emails. His confidence improved and he felt much better about using his device, less anxious and was keen to learn more. We supported him to install the NHS app so he could check and re-order prescriptions and use the e-consult function.
Recently K. was able to use his online knowledge to renew his passport, adding and uploading his digital photo to the online service. He is continuing to visit the Digital Health Hub on a weekly basis and is planning a trip to Europe soon, all of which is being done online.
Sean Flannigan, Digital Inclusion Officer, Holbeck Together
Over the last eight months, Holbeck Together have:
Delivered 222 hours of bespoke 1-2-1 digital support sessions, arranged by appointment to enable people to get the most from each session
Delivered 86 digital drop-in sessions for people who came into the community centre with a request for more immediate support
Made tablets available to everyone attending social sessions and activities, with support from staff available if required
Had positive conversations with 170 people to promote the use of digital tools and services
Engaged 89 people in conversations promoting digital health tools and services
Supported people to use NHS services online
Since I’ve been attending the digital health hub at Holbeck Together I’ve learned how to get online and use the internet. Without that help and guidance, I would have struggled to get to grips with modern technology. I attend weekly and I’m still finding it highly beneficial. The free SIM card they gave me through their data gifting scheme helps me stay in contact with everyone and stops me feeling isolated.
A service user from Holbeck Together
Next Steps
Holbeck Together are developing their vision for the future of their digital health hub. This includes:
Developing the skills and confidence of Digital Buddies in the appropriate use of digital technology to promote effective teaching and learning across all areas of the service and increasing their peer-support offer
Improving access to digital technology in the community centre by opening a permanent onsite space and putting users’ needs at the centre of its design
Continuing to work alongside partners through the Digital Inclusion Network and Beeston and Middleton Digital Health Hub Network to share best practice and improve ways to identify and ensure effective approaches to digital learning and access
Continuing to empower users to enhance their levels of digital literacy, enabling them to thrive in a digital society and reach their full potential in relation to learning, life and work
We have a fantastic partnership with 100% Digital Leeds, it’s great to see how much our digital inclusion offer has developed in the past 2 years. We are continuing to address the needs of our community and supporting them to overcome barriers to digital inclusion.
We have seen the difference it’s made to so many people’s lives, increasing their social connections, their independence and their access to services and improving their health and wellbeing. We are looking forward to seeing what the next 12 month holds, and really value the support of 100% Digital Leeds.
Sean Flannigan, Digital Inclusion Officer, Holbeck Together
100% Digital Leeds has partnered with Local Care Partnerships (LCP) in Leeds to develop a community-based approach to support digital inclusion for improved digital health participation, with place-based Digital Health Hub networks at the heart. The approach is being rolled out across the city in waves, supporting four LCPs at a time during a six-month period. Five development workshops will be delivered in each wave. Three development waves will run consecutively over an 18 month period leading up to the launch of a city-wide Digital Health Hub network in mid-to-late 2024.
Wave One, Workshop One
Wave one, working with HATCH, Woodsley and Holt Park, Central, and Morley LCPs, was launched in October 2022 with the support of over £200,000 in NHS Health Inequalities funding which will increase third sector capacity for supporting digital inclusion in the 10% most deprived communities within those LCP footprints.
This morning is the 1st workshop of Wave 1 of our roll-out plan, working with @LcpDevelopment to develop a city-wide #DigitalHealthHub network supporting #DigitalInclusion for improved health participation.
Workshop One took place on 26th October 2022 at St. Chad’s Parish Centre and brought together over 20 organisations to introduce them to the project and start thinking about the digital inclusion needs of the communities they work with and within. Organisations in attendance were from across sectors and support a range of different communities of interest. Attendance included Age UK, Leeds Libraries, Barca, Kirkstall Valley Development Trust, The Salvation Army, social prescribers, Localities teams, and Primary Care Network (PCN) representatives.
The workshop was broken into four key sections:
Understanding digital inclusion
Understanding digital health participation
Understanding Digital Health Hubs
Moving forward
Organisations were brought together in their LCPs to discuss these points, pooling their knowledge and experience to paint a picture of the needs of the communities in their place and start thinking about practical solutions.
We work with partners to coproduce asset-based solutions based on local need. Before we can understand what #DigitalInclusion support needs to be put in place we need to understand what digital exclusion looks like in each LCP and what support is already there @LcpDevelopmentpic.twitter.com/I2xpPHgakw
“The idea of going online and what that means to someone, and the reasons they might not, is very personal. It can be very overwhelming and make people feel very small.”
Workshop participant
Partners discussed what digital exclusion looks like to them, and how this impacts on the communities they work with and within. Based on their experience of supporting people and communities, partners identified the biggest barriers to digital inclusion in their place. Common barriers identified include cost of equipment and connectivity, age, poor literacy skills, hearing and sight loss, and cultural and language-based. It was recognised that there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution and any interventions need to be person-centred.
“It’s not just about getting devices, it’s about getting the right devices and data to people so it suits their needs. You can’t do homework on a mobile phone.”
“It’s about people being able to have a variety of options on how to access health services, and have the same opportunities as everyone else, so they don’t have to be stuck on the phone for an hour, and understanding that you don’t always have to leave the house to see the doctor or get a prescription.”
Workshop participant
Partners discussed what good digital health participation would look like for their communities, thinking about self-management and prevention as well as access to health services. Examples included supporting use of the NHS app, condition-specific self-management apps like myCOPD, help with using the internet to access relevant information, online peer-support, YouTube and other tools to help people move more, and digital tools to support the social integration of those who might struggle to get out and about for whatever reason.
“It’s about helping people combat the fear that not seeing a doctor face-to-face will mean they don’t receive the same level of care.”
Workshop participant
To understand how we can support digital health participation we first need to understand the needs of local communities. We want to see the right support in place so that people can use the right digital tools and services for them to engage with services & managing their health pic.twitter.com/mzOioiR8T8
Digital Health Hubs are key community organisations with trusted spaces and staff/volunteers on hand who can help people overcome barriers to digital inclusio, so that they can access relevant information and tools to improve their health and wellbeing. Organisations discussed whether they would be a good fit for developing as a Digital Health Hub or would be better suited in a supporting role: identifying digitally excluded people, helping them to understand the benefits of engaging with digital, and signposting to the Digital Health Hub network for that support. Organisations discussed what digital inclusion support they already offer, including whether they offer access to free wifi, support with digital skills, or loan digital equipment.
The community-based approach to digital inclusion for improved health participation has #DigitalHealthHubs – places people can go to get #DigitalInclusion support – at the heart, but also relies on everyone in the community playing a role in raising awareness and signposting pic.twitter.com/IVxPKcEzQs
Depending on their potential role in the community-based approach, partners were invited to attend one or more of the following four development workshops planned for Wave One taking place in the coming months. Whether they joined us in in the initial workshop or not, organisations supporting people and communities in the HATCH, Woodsley and Holt Park, Central, and Morley LCPs that might be interested in becoming a Digital Health Hub are welcome to join us for the next meeting:
Workshop two: Developing a Digital Health Hub
Wednesday 16th November 2022, 09:30 – 11:30am, Teams
This Teams workshop is targeted at any groups or services who are interested in being a Digital Health Hub. Don’t worry right now about whether you have the staff, the tech, or the wifi to make this happen. This is exactly what we will be looking to talk through in the workshop.
We’ll be looking at what being a Hub involves, checking where you are at now and what support (and funding) you may need to make this happen. Some of you will already be well on your journey to being a Hub whereas others may be just at the start of the journey.
If you have a community that you think would benefit from you offering a Hub then please come along and be part of the conversation.
Since the start of this year The Old Fire Station in Gipton has worked with 100% Digital Leeds to understand and support the digital inclusion needs of communities in East Leeds. As an organisation offering many services under one roof, in a place where people feel safe and welcome, supported by caring and person-centred staff, The Old Fire Station is an ideal location to offer person-centred digital support.
Fran Etherington, Development Manager, standing outside The Old Fire Station
“It’s about starting a conversation where someone feels safe and welcome, and it might take them a few visits to open that door and have that conversation but, when they do, they feel comfortable doing it”.
Fran Etherington, Development Manager at The Old Fire Station
Over the last nine months, 100% Digital Leeds has helped The Old Fire Station to access funding and resources to offer local people skills support via digital drop-in sessions and connectivity via the National Databank, and they have also become a Digital Health Hub. Clarion Housing has funded the organisation to deliver a digital oral history project using the building’s rich heritage as a catalyst for digital inclusion. Most recently The Old Fire Station has been awarded NHS health inequalities funding to host a full time member of staff to work with partners across the York Road Local Care Partnership footprint and continue the development of the Digital Health Hub Network.
“100% Digital Leeds has held our hands and supported us throughout our digital inclusion journey, helping us to develop all of our projects. From the conversations we need to have with the people who visit, trying to understand what we need to do, and how we’re going to do it. The support has been fantastic.”
Fran Etherington, Development Manager at The Old Fire Station
Bringing people and services together
The Old Fire Station is a vibrant and well-loved community venue in Gipton. It is a space where local people can come to socialise, access support, and have fun. The Old Fire Station hosts a range of events and activities that bring together local residents, from film nights to car boot sales.
The building houses a number of charities offering support to people living locally and across Leeds:
Space2 is an arts and social change charity supporting health and wellbeing through the arts
People in Action supports people who are learning disabled and people who are autistic to live happy, healthy and independent lives
Zest offers support and opportunity to people living in disadvantaged areas of Leeds, addressing health inequalities and social isolation through activities which improve physical, mental, social and emotional wellbeing
GIPSIL works with those in the most disadvantaged communities in Leeds to realise their potential, including supporting access to housing
The centre is home to the popular and affordable Feel Good Café, a social enterprise run by SLATE an organisation that supports people with learning and other difficulties to access employment, training and volunteering opportunities.
The charities work in close partnership to identify and meet the needs of local people and communities visiting The Old Fire Station and each has partnered with 100% Digital Leeds to support the digital inclusion of the people and communities they support.
“Folk come into the café because it’s a safe, warm space to be. We get a lot of people who are in quite severe difficulties. When the staff notice someone under stress they will go and chat to them and offer them a cup of tea and before you know it, in two weeks time, you’ll see that person at one of the groups, accessing support”.
Fran Etherington, Development Manager at The Old Fire Station
Supporting digital inclusion
The many staff working across the different services at The Old Fire Station use person-centred conversations to understand the needs of the local residents, building trusted relationships with people over time. As their needs are understood they are signposted and supported to access some of the different services available across the building.
“We have the most amazing team of people here who are mainly local, really open and friendly, and just have that ability to make people feel really comfortable.”
Fran Etherington, Development Manager at The Old Fire Station
Free wifi and 4G data
For East Leeds residents without access to wifi or struggling with fuel costs The Old Fire Station is a safe, warm, and friendly space to access free wifi, where people are welcome to linger. People with a device but reliant on pay-as-you-go or unable to afford data for connectivity can be gifted six months of free 4G data via the National Databank.
Digital skills support
People looking to develop their digital skills can access support at a weekly Tuesday morning Digital Drop-in facilitated by Get Technology Together, a Leeds CIC helping individuals gain expertise, practical skills and confidence in technology.
Access to equipment
Those without the right digital equipment for them can use laptops at the Digital Drop-in. Tablets in fixed stands will soon be available to use in the Feel Good Cafe, supported by funding from Clarion Housing. Staff will be able to remove the tablets from the stands to use with groups meeting in the building.
Creative approaches to digital engagement
An exciting new project facilitated by Space2 and funded by Clarion will see the Old Fire Station harnessing its heritage to encourage those lacking confidence and motivation to take their first steps with digital. Space2 will work with The Old Fire Station’s Heritage Group to record the stories of ex-fire fighters who used to work in the building when it was a working fire station. The recorded audio and video will be used to create an oral history trail throughout the building, accessible via a series of QR codes.
“It’s a sort of stealth approach to digital inclusion. The heritage group are all ex-fire fighters, they have the technology, but they’re not using it. Working with people to be able to create QR codes will be out of their comfort zone. But what they’re excited to do is to tell the stories they have about the building. We know that using technology in doing that is going to give them so many more skills on their phones and the confidence to do more with digital.”
Fran Etherington, Development Manager at The Old Fire Station
The rich heritage of the Old Fire Station is showcased and celebrated in the design and decoration of the building and their community engagement programme. The venue hosts a number of annual heritage events that engage large numbers of the local community across all ages, including a Fire Engine Day and Heritage Weekend, both of which are supported by the Heritage Group. The oral history trail will enhance this and the aim is that the Heritage Group will help to engage people with the resource, supporting them to use the QR codes and signposting them to the digital inclusion support available across the building.
Becoming a Digital Health Hub
The Old Fire Station started its digital inclusion journey by attending a series of workshops aimed at supporting organisations to become Digital Health Hubs. Digital Health Hubs are dedicated community organisations and locations with trusted people on hand to help their service users overcome barriers to digital inclusion so that they can access relevant information and tools to improve their health and wellbeing.
“People tell us they feel safe in the building. They don’t feel like they’re going to the council or coming to a Job Centre. And they’re not. They’re just coming into a nice, friendly space but, because there are so many charities in the building, the chances are there is someone who can help them in the building, or they know someone who can.”
Fran Etherington, Development Manager at The Old Fire Station
This was part of the development of a community-based approach to support digital inclusion for improved digital health participation, led by 100% Digital Leeds in partnership with Local Care Partnerships (LCP). The approach was developed with Beeston and Middleton LCP and tested with York Road LCP, which has seen the development of 27 Digital Health Hubs in Leeds to date.
Join the first development wave
The approach will be rolled-out across the city in an ambitious 18-24 month plan. The staged implementation plan will start in late October 2022 with the support of over £200,000 in Health Inequalities funding which will increase third sector capacity for supporting digital inclusion.
Implementation will happen in a series of waves, the first of which will take part with Central, HATCH, Woodsley & Holt Park, and Morley Local Care Partnerships. For an invitation to the kick-off meeting taking place on 22nd October contact lcht.lcpdevelopment@nhs.net
Leeds is one of nine councils awarded funding 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. 100% Digital Leeds has been funded to develop a Community-based Model to Increase Digital Inclusion. Interested parties can follow our progress on the project Miro board. The completed model will be published and launched in December this year.
Workshop four: Measuring and demonstrating success
This final workshop in the series built upon the content of the previous workshops. In those sessions we looked at: exploring the digital inclusion barriers faced by a particular community and potential solutions to overcome them, and turning those identified solutions into an action plan.
We were joined by representatives from Coventry and East Riding of Yorkshire. These partners, alongside Plymouth, West Berkshire, and London Borough of Bexley, are working with us to sense-check the model. They are helping us to ensure the content is useful for local authorities with a different geographical or demographic make-up to Leeds, and councils at different points in their digital inclusion journey.
Stage four content
Unlike previous stages which have followed a clearer ‘step-by-step’ format, stage four of the model – measuring and demonstrating success – raises the following issues to consider when thinking about evaluation across the approach as a whole:
Why we evaluate and what we do with the results
Common issues faced by those looking to understand the impact of digital inclusion interventions
Thinking about outcomes at different levels
What we measure and report at 100% Digital Leeds
How we gather the information
How we share our outcomes to further our work
Thoughts and feedback
The workshops are an opportunity for local authorities with different geography, demographics, and challenges to sense-check the model and assess how applicable it is to their situation.
One challenge common to all of the authorities present is the need to demonstrate the value of digital inclusion interventions. It was reflected that the requested focus is often on KPIs that adopt a binary definition of digital inclusion/exclusion, which are incompatible with the complex and multifaceted challenges faced by those working to increase digital inclusion. Similarly, established return on investment models are based around channel shift, an issue which is affected by factors other than digital inclusion.
“Tying the business case for digital inclusion to numbers can cause problems when it comes to evaluating and being requested to provide specific figures.”
Workshop attendee
The model addresses this by moving away from trying to measure levels of digital inclusion, or the idea of people ’being digitally included’ as an outcome in itself, instead framing digital inclusion as an enabler to other behaviours that lead to positive outcomes.
Attendees fed back that refocusing in this way also allows the issue to be discussed through different lenses to resonate with different audiences, helping them to more easily engage partners with the digital inclusion agenda.
Similarly, partnering authorities report that using a model that is proven and established helps with engagement and leads to them having more successful conversations, especially when working with a community that is new to them.
“It’s been really impactful. Having the model to follow gives partners more faith in us.”
Workshop attendee
Having begun to implement parts of the model, the overwhelming feedback from partnering authorities who are earlier in their digital inclusion development journey is: having an established model to follow, written by a team that is recognised and respected for the efficacy of their programme, has helped them to work more efficiently and see positive outcomes more quickly.
“The model is very useful when you’re starting out and other authorities will really benefit. Having the model has cut huge chunks of time out of the process for us”.
Workshop attendee
Next steps
Now that the content sense-check is complete the 100% Digital Leeds team will write the final draft of the model and this will be shared with partners for review. A final summative evaluation workshop will take place in November prior to the launch of the final finished model in December.
On Thursday 8th September 2022 Alex Barker from AbilityNet visited Leeds to share his insights on how digital tools and resources can support accessibility for people with disabilities.
As someone who uses assistive technology in his daily life Alex can relate to people who face challenges when it comes to using digital equipment. He has over twenty years of experience working with AbilityNet and is passionate about how digital tools can enhance the lives of people with disabilities. Alex shared his own experiences of how assistive technologies have enabled him to study and to flourish in his career.
“This will be so useful for our members.”
Staff member, People Matters
Assistive Technology Training
Alex explained that assistive technologies do not have to be expensive or complicated to use. He showcased some amazing apps which can be downloaded for free and described some accessibility features that are embedded within most digital devices. He explained how relatively cheap and simple hardware like a rollerball mouse or a compact keyboard can make a huge difference to a person with a disability.
Some of Alex’s top accessible resources and tips
Be My Eyes is a free app which connects blind and low-vision people with sighted volunteers and company representatives for visual assistance through a live video call.
Clarospeak is a free reading and writing app with high-quality text-to-speech function. It can be incredibly helpful for people with low literacy skills.
Filter Keys is a Microsoft Accessibility option that you can use to control the keyboard’s Repeat rate and ignore repeated keys. Apple has its own version called Slow Keys. This can be incredibly helpful for people who find it hard to hold down multiple keys.
My Computer, My Way guides offer step-by-step instructions on how to adapt your phone, computer, or tablet to meet an individual’s needs. You can search for a specific need (e.g. making text larger) or filter the guides based on your symptoms (e.g. hand tremor) or condition (e.g. dyslexia).
Virtual Assistants like Siri and Google Assistant allow people to send a text message, set reminders, and even control home appliances using only their voice. These functions can allow people with disabilities to perform simple daily tasks without support.
“This information could be life-changing.”
Staff at the HALO Project, Hamara
Autism and Learning Disabilities Digital Inclusion Network
100% Digital Leeds made the opportunity available to members of the Autism and Learning Disabilities Digital Inclusion Network (ALaDDIN) and, as a result, staff at People Matters, Pyramid of Arts, and Hamara’s HALO Project were able to benefit from Alex’s wealth of knowledge.
ALaDDIN is a network where organisations working in Leeds to support people with learning disabilities and autism meet to share best practice, identify solutions to common barriers, and discuss opportunities to strengthen digital inclusion infrastructure, such as funding and partnership working. The network meets once a month and is supported by a consultation group of people with learning disabilities who inform the discussions.
If you are interested in finding out more about the opportunities available through ALaDDIN please contact nicky@pyramid.org.uk.
AbilityNet
Alex was also interviewed by members of the Employment Project Grant team at Pyramid. This is a team of people with learning disabilities who are working on a film to show employers how they can make their workplaces more inclusive. Alex explained how AbilityNet can work with employers to make adaptations which can help disabled people to thrive in the workplace.
AbilityNet is a pioneering and well-established UK charity that believes the power of digital technology should be available to everyone, regardless of ability or age. The organisation offers free tech support and information for disabled and older people and their website contains a wealth of accessible fact sheets, webinars, and how-to guides. AbilityNet has a team of helpful volunteers citywide who can visit people in their own homes to advise and support them to set up and use the digital tools required to meet their individual needs.
If you are interested in speaking to AbilityNet about the support on offer to people with disabilities, you can contact them at enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk.
Having digital skills, connectivity, confidence, and motivation means prison leavers are better able to succeed in the areas of their lives that make people less likely to reoffend such as finding secure housing, accessing work, and building positive support networks.
Digital inclusion to support the reduction of reoffending
Taking a community and strengths based approach 100% Digital Leeds is working with partners already supporting prisoners, prison leavers, and ex-offenders to embed digital inclusion support into their existing services.
The project is split in to 3 key strands:
Improving in-prison support for improved digital skills, confidence, and motivation for prisoners
Improving the transition between internal and external support for prison leavers
Improving community digital inclusion support for ex-offenders
Improving in-prison support for improved digital skills, confidence, and motivation for prisoners
Due to strict legislation around access to digital devices and connectivity, in many prisons the only real opportunity for prisoners to engage with digital is in an IT learning suite as part of a formal educational environment. Engaging with learning and education is ‘opt in’ and only a fraction of prisoners go down this route during their time in prison. Offering more opportunities to engage with digital outside of a classroom environment allows more prisoners to develop their digital skills and confidence in an environment in which they feel comfortable, and in a context that feels more relevant to their lives.
Expanding access to digital in workshop settings at HMP Wealstun
Mark Acaster from HMP Wealstun has implemented a digital inclusion pilot in the sewing machine repair workshop at the prison. Giving prisoners the opportunity to engage with digital outside of a formal education setting has been effective in building their confidence and improving their transferable digital skills.
“I have really enjoyed improving my IT skills as I know they are going to help me upon release.”
Prisoner in the sewing machine workshop, HMP Wealstun
With support from 100% Digital Leeds Mark has secured new equipment, modernised the stock control system, and opened up more opportunities for prisoners to engage with digital software and hardware.
Introducing more opportunities for prisoners to positively engage with digital
Mark has made several changes to processes within the workshop that allows prisoners more opportunity to engage with digital in a way that is positive and demonstrates the value of digital tools and resources:
Updating software from Windows XP, for which updates had been discontinued, to Windows 10 and Office Suite 2021, allowing prisoners to develop their skills using up to date software
Giving prisoners access to sewing machine parts books in PDF format as an alternative to paper catalogues and demonstrating advanced search functions and ability to zoom in to technical drawings as benefits to using the digital version
Moving ‘Progress In Workshop’ self-appraisal reports from paper to MS Word and supporting prisoners to complete themselves
Teaching prisoners practical keyboard skills that make their work easier such as commonly used keyboard shortcuts
Actively looking for more opportunities to give workers the chance to interact with computing, such as designing workshop signage
The benefits of integrating digital into a work environment
Introducing better and more frequent opportunities to engage with digital in the workshop has benefited prisoners working in the sewing machine workshop:
Prisoners are given the opportunity to engage with digital
Prisoners are learning transferable skills which will give them a better chance of securing employment upon release, and ease the transition into work
Prisoners are engaged and enjoy having more opportunities to develop their digital skills
Prisoners are showing improved digital confidence
Aided by improved IT systems and infrastructure prisoners are able to work more efficiently
Daniel: prisoner case study
When Daniel arrived in the sewing machine workshop he had never used a computer and was very nervous around digital. He has not engaged with any formal IT learning and was not interested in doing so. Being more comfortable in a work environment, Daniel started down a mechanical path repairing sewing machines. He later found he had more of an aptitude for the monitoring and recording side of the workshop which saw him being introduced to using more of the digital systems and processes.
Daniel has learned a lot of transferable digital skills, starting with the basics such as using a mouse and keyboard but soon progressing to more advanced office admin tasks such as:
Booting up and shutting down a computer
Saving files in different formats such as PDF
Inputting and interpreting data
Creating jobs and logging stock
Using workflows
Using Word and Excel
“I was very nervous about ICT when I came in but it has exceeded my expectations and I’ve learned a lot. I wouldn’t have used computers naturally but I enjoy the work that I do now and have found a niche. It’s great because it’s what I’m supposed to know on the outside. Things that seemed too complicated are more simple for me now and I’m able to help others.”
Daniel, HMP Wealstun
Daniel has developed so much that he is now able to independently problem solve and troubleshoot simple IT issues. His newfound confidence has seen Daniel become a Peer Support Mentor within HMP Wealstun, a role where other prisoners are able to come to him for advice and he can be a positive model of the benefits of digital inclusion.
Next Steps
100% Digital Leeds will work with HMP Wealstun to explore further opportunities to embed digital within prisoner work environments. We will deliver a digital inclusion awareness workshop with staff to further understand the digital inclusion needs of this prisoner cohort and the capacity of workshops to introduce digital into their systems and processes in a way that opens up digital access to more prisoners.
Arts in Care Homes Day is an annual event championing, promoting, and encouraging arts engagement in care settings and highlighting the health and wellbeing benefits for all involved. In celebration of Arts in Care Homes Day 2022 the Arts and Culture Digital Inclusion Network has developed an engaging programme of creative workshops open to care providers in Leeds, free of charge.
The programme includes a range of art forms and cultural activities, such as dance, embroidery, music, and local history (there’s even a virtual canal boat ride!), and sessions are suitable to the needs of people being cared for, such as older people, people living with dementia, and people with learning disabilities.
We can help you with the digital bit
While the timetable does include some face-to-face sessions to be delivered in care settings, most of the sessions are delivered remotely via Zoom so multiple care settings can join in at the same time.
Each session description includes details of tech requirements. Anything in brackets isn’t essential but ‘nice to have’. For example, for sessions saying ‘(camera)’, participants can be on camera if your setting has access to a camera, the participants are comfortable being on camera, and your care setting has the relevant permissions, but being on camera isn’t essential to participating.
Most sessions require only a screen and speakers so where residents are joining in as a group the session could be played through a TV. If a resident is joining the session solo they could use a laptop, iPad, or other tablet. Contact 100% Digital Leeds if your care setting needs support.
A rundown of all last week’s sport and a chance to connect with and chat to other sports fans. Please note, this session will be recorded and shared on the AspireCBS website but attendees who do not want to appear in any recording are free to keep their camera off.
AspireCBS provides day services, supported living services, respite, and crisis services to adults with a learning disability and their family carers.
Audience: Adults with learning disabilities
Duration: 90 minutes
Format: Live workshop, delivered remotely via Zoom
11:00am Be a virtual canal boat skipper with Canal Connections
Members of Canal Connections will be filming a trip along the beautiful Leeds Waterways. Participants will have the chance to communicate with the staff and the skippers and to ask them to take photographs.
Canal Connections explores the opportunities for social regeneration presented through the waterways and its environs by the innovative engagement of individuals, families, communities, and organisations whilst enhancing the built and natural heritage of that environment.
Audience: Anyone receiving care from a care provider
Duration: 120 minutes
Format: Live workshop, delivered remotely via Zoom
1.15pm Lunchtime Organ Concert with Leeds International Concert Season
An organ recital by Phoebe Tak Man Chow live from Leeds Cathedral. Trained at the Royal College of Music and having held church and cathedral positions in the UK and Ireland, Phoebe is currently Director of Music at All Saints, Orpington, and organ scholar at St Martin-in-the-Fields. The concert will feature: JS Bach – Prelude & Fugue in D, BWV532; Roger Wibberley – Ubi Caritas; René Becker – Sonata No 1: Praeludium Festivum; Prayer; Toccata; Josef Rheinberger – Sonata No 8.
Leeds International Concert Season presents around 200 concerts each year, featuring orchestra, chamber music, brass bands, two series of free lunchtime concerts, and a series of free brass band concerts in parks in the summer.
Audience: Anyone receiving care from a care provider
Duration: 50 minutes
Format: Live concert, delivered remotely via YouTube
Equipment: Speakers (screen)
Booking: No need to book in advance. The YouTube link will appear on the event page on the day of the concert. For support email music@leeds.gov.uk
1:30pm Move it to Music with AspireCBS
A fun and energetic fitness class to lively music. The session can be adapted to all ability levels and attendees can remain seated throughout if preferred. The playlist is chosen by attendees so feel free to email some song suggestions when booking. Please note, this session will be recorded and shared on the AspireCBS website but attendees who do not want to appear in any recording are free to keep their camera off.
AspireCBS provides day services, supported living services, respite, and crisis services to adults with a learning disability and their family carers.
Audience: Adults with learning disabilities
Duration: 90 minutes
Format: Live workshop, delivered remotely via Zoom
Reminisce your favourite songs and musicians over the years through our fun, inclusive and mindful musical session. Residents will be able to part take in this musical quiz as they listen and sing along to some live much-loved classics sung by one of our musical librarians. The session is inclusive and interactive, giving participants the opportunity to remember their favourite music throughout the decades in a safe and familiar environment as well as listen to live music online.
Leeds Libraries delivers a wide range of leisure, cultural, learning and information services. The library service offers safe, welcoming free and accessible spaces where people can meet, engage, interact, learn, and develop.
Audience: Anyone receiving care from a care provider
Duration: 60 minutes
Format: Live workshop, delivered remotely via Zoom
An energy-boosting, medium intensity workout that infuses specific exercises for the body and mind with the playfulness of dance. Come as you are, and dive into an inclusive dance community. This class blends 30 minutes of dance cardio with 15 minutes of choreography to upbeat music from around the world.
Ascendance is a charity organisation working in the Dance for Health sector, delivering outstanding participatory programmes, performances & films, based in Leeds, UK.
Audience: Care residents with Parkinson’s, MS, and other neurological conditions
Duration: 45 minutes
Format: Live workshop, delivered remotely via Zoom
Get a feel for the workshop content by watching this captivating insight into Ascendance’s ‘Dance with Parkinson’s’ community.
2:00pm Hidden Cinemas with Hyde Park Picture House
This talk will encourage people to remember their own favourite cinemas and share their experiences of cinema from years gone by. From much loved local fleapits to the ‘super cinemas’ of the 1920s and 30s, Laura’s illustrated talk will take you on a tour of some of Leeds’ best hidden cinema treasures, using photographs to tell their stories. Before the era of the multiplex cinema began, Leeds used to have many different and unique cinemas. Most of them have now closed for good, but some went on to become bingo halls, tile warehouses, flats, hotels, and even fish and chip shops! Of course, not all of the old cinemas in Leeds have closed their doors. The Hyde Park Picture House, built in 1914, still remains an active part of the city’s film scene. You can also find out more about each cinema we cover in our talk by using our online Leeds cinemas map, www.lostcinemas.co.uk
Established in 1914, the Hyde Park Picture House is one of the UK’s oldest cinemas. Known affectionately as the ‘cosiest cinema in Leeds’, the Picture House screens the very best independent, documentary and artist films from around the world. Their Grade 2 listed building has been closed for a while for some repairs, but will be opening soon with a brand new second screen and new accessible facilities. While they’re getting ready to open, they would like to share our remarkable story with as many people as possible.
Audience: Older people, people living with dementia
Duration: 40 minutes, plus additional time for comments
A celebration of musical theatre, this weekly session includes learning ‘step-by-step’ dance routines to songs from hit musicals and virtual trips to the theatre. Previous sessions have included virtual trips to West End Live, Disneyworld, and an Elton John concert. The session content is led by the regular participants so varies from week to week. Take pot luck or contact Rebecca for more specific details in the week before this session takes place. Please note, this session will be recorded and shared on the AspireCBS website but attendees who do not want to appear in any recording are free to keep their camera off.
AspireCBS provides day services, supported living services, respite, and crisis services to adults with a learning disability and their family carers.
Audience: Adults with learning disabilities
Duration: 90 minutes
Format: Live workshop, delivered remotely via Zoom
1:30pm Rock & Roll Bingo ‘70’s Hits’ Edition with AspireCBS
Bingo but with music! Attendees have 16 songs on their bingo card. Listen out for your songs and when you have a full house, unmute yourself and shout BINGO as loud as you can. Please download and print your bingo cards.
This online session will introduce you to Puccini’s famous opera ‘La Traviata’ and take you on a journey through the ballrooms of high society in Paris. Led by vocal animateur Marie Claire Breen, this will be a friendly space to learn, sing, have fun, and meet people. If possible, it would be ideal to set the room in a semi-circle and for participants to have some space to move. Care settings may want to provide participants with a party drink, such as a plastic champagne flute of something fizzy, as we’ll be throwing a party just like the opening scene.
Opera North is a national opera company based in Leeds, and is a leading UK arts organisation. Rooted in the North of England, international in outlook, we create extraordinary experiences every day. Opera North believes opera and music is for everyone, and champions diversity in artists, repertoire, and audiences. Opera North Education connects with communities and inspires each generation, aiming to enhance the health and well-being of people in the communities where we work through arts participation and performance.
Audience: Anyone receiving care from a care provider
Duration: 40-50 minutes
Format: Live workshop, delivered remotely via Zoom
Preparation in advance: Why not dress up for the occasion? Participants could make a bow out of paper to wear in their hair or as a bow tie. Participants could listen to recordings of famous songs from La Traviata ahead of the workshop.
Make a bow-tie in preparation for the workshop
Listen to recordings of famous songs from La Traviata ahead of the workshop.
Thursday 29th September
11:00am Live Music Now
Live Music Now present a live participatory performance featuring Leeds musician Simon Robinson. Join Simon as he plays a wide repertoire of traditional music, ranging from American mountain songs and Old Time Banjo tunes, Blues songs, chants and spirituals, through to British folk songs and sea shanties. He is passionate about facilitating music making in all different settings, and loves a good sing-a-long!
Live Music Now fosters musical lives. You can find their musicians in care homes, schools, healthcare and community settings across the region. Their world-class musicians connect with people experiencing social exclusion or disadvantage, working together to create engaging, interactive live music sessions that meaningfully enhance health and well-being.
Audience: Anyone receiving care from a care provider
Duration: 60 minutes
Format: Live workshop, delivered remotely via Zoom
Equipment: Screen, speakers (camera, keyboard)
Booking: Email deborah.welch@livemusicnow.org.uk
Get a feel for the workshop by watching this video from musician, Simon Robinson, who will be hosting the session
1:30pm Rock & Roll Bingo ‘Players Picks’ Edition with AspireCBS
Bingo but with music! Attendees have 16 songs on their bingo card. Listen out for your songs and when you have a full house, unmute yourself and shout BINGO as loud as you can. Please download and print your bingo cards.
Start time agreed at booking: Magical Mushroom, Autumn Bunting Party! Embroidery with Leeds Libraries
Discover the Botanical Treasures of Leeds Libraries Special Collection by using iPads to explore stunning rare hand-coloured illustrations of mushrooms and fungi from the eighteenth century. Participants will be able to select an image from the special collections to transfer to a pre-cut flag and decorate using embroidery, trimmings, buttons, and other fabrics and materials. When finished, the flags will be assembled to create a collaborative textile art work for the venue to display and keep. The session is colourful, visual, and tactile with fabrics and ribbons to select, hold, and manipulate. It can be adapted to any abilities with people having the opportunity to sew if they wish or assemble and have the facilitator complete.
The Art Library in Leeds Central Library is the largest and most comprehensive specialist public Art Library in the North of England. Discover a world of creativity in the iconic Art Library, established in 1956.
Audience: Anyone receiving care from a care provider
Duration: 90 minutes
Format: Face-to-face session delivered in the care setting
Participants will take part in a gentle movement and storytelling workshop, with moments of music, games, and playfulness. Participants will assist the practitioner in adding details to stories, finding actions, expressions, and movements to bring different tales to life. The session will be led by the participants’ interests and ability. If you happen to have any percussion instruments please bring them along and join in!
Artlink West Yorkshire is an arts and health charity working with diverse communities in Leeds. Working in a therapeutic and rehabilitative capacity, we have a strong focus on positive mental health and independent living through high quality arts activity delivered by our team of creative facilitators.
Audience: Anyone receiving care from a care provider
Duration: 60 minutes
Format: Live workshop, delivered remotely via Zoom
Join dance artist Rachel for an upbeat dance session. Sense Art’s dance sessions are for everyone, and whether you prefer to dance seated or standing, options will be given for both. No experience is needed, these sessions are all about having some fun.
Sense is a national disability charity. They believe everyone should be able to take part in life, no matter their disability.
Audience: Older people
Duration: 45 minutes
Format: Live workshop, delivered remotely via Zoom
A dance class designed for older adults to get moving, enjoy light exercise, and take part in some dancing. Janetta Maxwell takes each session, bringing music that gets toes tapping and faces smiling. The session can be adapted to all ability levels and attendees can remain seated throughout if preferred.
RJC Dance is the leading inclusive Black dance organisation in the North empowering children, young people, and adults through dance, movement and exercise.
Audience: Anyone receiving care from a care provider
Duration: 60 minutes
Format: Live workshop, delivered remotely via Zoom
Get a feel for the workshop by watching this video showcasing a previous project with the same group at RJC Dance
3:00pm Connecting Stars: Autumn Leaves with Constella OperaBallet
Connecting Stars is an interactive collaborative concert between musicians and ballet dancers.
Constella are the world’s only company dedicated to opera-ballet and create cutting-edge, interdisciplinary performances for today’s audience. Founded by the award-winning composer and conductor Leo Geyer, Constella brings together pioneering musicians, dancers, visual artists, historians, garden designers, architects, poets, and costume-makers.
Audience: Anyone receiving care from a care provider
Duration: 45 minutes
Format: Live workshop, delivered remotely via Zoom
Get a feel for the workshop by watching this preview from Constella
Anytime
Echome: make music through your movement
Imagine you could play the sound of a piano with a simple movement of your hand? Or the sound of a cello with your knee? Imagine you could create any sound you like – birdsong, sea waves, children laughing – with any part of your body you feel like moving. Welcome to echome! An accessible and intuitive technology that allows you to create any sound with any part of your body. The session will involve a set of simple activities that can be tailored to the participants’ needs and preferences and involve the creation of music and sound out of their movement. The technology involves a set of light wearable sensors that can be worn anywhere on the body and a simple computer interface. Participants can move individually, in pairs, or small groups, and the movement can be as small or as big as they choose. They will be able to select from a variety of music and sounds and work with the ones that appeal to their tastes and/or personal memories. The session aims to make movement fun, facilitate deep listening, and offer opportunities for collaboration between two or more participants.
echome has been developed by academic researchers at the University of Leeds and arts practitioners in collaboration with end users. A recent pilot project with older people suffering from arthritis proved that echome encourages physical activity, offers opportunity for creative expression, and enables sociality and collaboration. As one of the participants said ‘it is as if the music bribes you into doing more than you would normally’.
Audiences: Older people, people with learning disabilities, working age adults
Duration: 60 – 90 minutes
Format: Face-to-face workshop delivered at the care facility
Equipment: none
Booking:via Eventbrite. Time and date will be arranged at booking.
Wellbeing Workshop with Northern Ballet
This 30 minute digital dance workshop uses Northern Ballet productions to inspire gentle movement activity which can be accessed either standing, or whilst sitting down. There are two dance teachers leading the session, one is demonstrating from a standing position, the other from a seated position, so there is always someone to copy. The session covers the basics of good posture, and a safe warm up using ‘plies’ to various dance segments from Northern Ballet productions such as The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. To top it off, the session is accompanied by a live musician from Northern Ballet’s sinfonia. The session is pre-recorded, so you can pause, rewind, and repeat as you wish.
As the UK’s widest-touring dance company, Northern Ballet aims to share exceptional ballet with a diverse audience and create opportunities for everyone to be inspired by dance. Their Academy and Learning programmes enable people of all ages, means, and abilities to take part in dance activities, developing and nurturing emerging creative talent, training exceptional young dancers, and providing world-class dance facilities at our home in Leeds. They deliver outreach activities in the regional community and across our tours for people with limited access to the arts.
Audience: Anyone receiving care from a care provider
Duration: 30 minutes
Format: Pre-recorded workshop via YouTube
Equipment: Screen, speakers
Booking: View the workshop anytime, no need to book. If you would be interested in partnering with Northern Ballet in the future email learning@northernballet.com
Pre-recorded Wellbeing Workshop from Northern Ballet
Write an original song with Swan Song Project
Swan Song believe a song can live forever, carrying precious memories and providing comfort and joy to listeners. Their songwriters support anyone approaching the end of their life or dealing with a bereavement to write a song, helping with every stage of the process, from finding initial ideas to finishing a recording. The song-writing process can be deeply therapeutic as well as being a lot of fun.
The Swan Song Project gives people planning the end stages of their lives and those surrounding them the opportunity to write and record their own original song. A professional songwriter provides support to guide each person, through finding the initial idea to the completed recording. No previous musical experience or abilities are required.
Audience: Anyone approaching the end of their life or dealing with a bereavement
Duration: Various
Format: Workshops, face-to-face in the care setting or via Zoom
Find out more about Swan Song Project
Purple Patch Arts Daily Activities
While their live programmes were closed due to Covid Purple Patch Arts posted daily activities on their website, in line with weekly themes like storytelling, poetry, and murder mystery. The activities use resources that you should be able to find in a care setting.
Since 2009, Purple Patch Arts has existed to provide innovative and inclusive creative learning opportunities that improve the lives of adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults by expanding their understanding of, and engagement with, the world.
Marks In Time includes lots of free online resources including pre-recorded talks, a virtual tour of their exhibition, fun resources for wine tasting, and a sheet music activity pack. They also offer free loan of Memory Boxes containing original clothing and accessories that can be used as memory prompts and to stimulate conversation.
The M&S Company Archive enables Marks & Spencer to celebrate and utilise its rich heritage for the good of the business, its customers, and the wider community. The Archive preserves, develops and facilitates access to its unique collection and delivers a dynamic programme of public engagement, using the collection to support and inspire the community.
Sharing learning and outcomes
We will close the week with a webinar as part of Leeds Digital Festival. ‘Creative Digital Inclusion in the Care Sector’ will be a first look at the impact of the programme and its success in supporting the arts participation and digital confidence of residents and staff at living and working in care settings. It will also be an opportunity to share best practice and look at what’s next.
Developing the programme
This project aims to support care providers to bring more arts and culture activity into their settings by engaging remotely via digital, and to develop staff digital skills and confidence. Arts and culture organisations will be supported to reach new audiences in care settings, expand their care setting offer, and form lasting partnerships with care providers.
Special thanks to the members of the cross-sector steering group who have developed this programme and, of course, to the arts and culture organisations who have contributed to this amazing programme, all of whom have given their time and resource without the support of funding. You can find out more about the development of this programme on our previous blog.
Leeds Digital Festival returns 19 – 30 September 2022 for a two-week celebration of digital culture. 100% Digital Leeds are hosting and contributing to a number of events that make up the programme. To be among the first to hear about events hosted by 100% Digital Leeds follow us on Eventbrite.
Monday 19th September, 10:00am – 10:30am, Zoom webinar. Book via Eventbrite.
Hosted in partnership with Leeds and Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust, this webinar will showcase an exciting new development which brings together accessible apps and resources that can be used to support people with Learning Disabilities to move more and stay happy and healthy.
100% Digital Leeds has partnered with Local Care Partnerships in Leeds to develop a community-based approach to support digital inclusion for improved health participation, with Digital Health Hubs at the heart of the implementation model. Hosted in partnership with Local Care Partnerships, this webinar is an opportunity to find out more about the model and plans for city-wide implementation, including how partners from across all sectors can get involved.
The 100% Digital Leeds and Leeds Older People’s Forum ‘Transport Connections’ project will explore how utilising bus and taxi apps can best support older people to access transport in the city, combatting social isolation by increasing access to health services and social settings. Hosted in partnership with Leeds Older People’s Forum, this webinar is an opportunity to find out more about the project and plans for increasing access for older people using transport apps.
Digital Inclusion: Age and Dementia Friendly Leeds
100% Digital Leeds has partnered with Leeds Older People’s Forum to develop the Older People’s Digital Inclusion Network, bringing together over 40 organisations to share best practice, foster partnerships, and understand the most inclusive approaches to supporting older people with digital. Hosted in partnership with Leeds Older People’s Forum, this webinar is an opportunity to find out more about the impact of the network and how digital has made a difference to older people’s lives.
Wednesday 28th September, 12.00pm – 12.30pm, Zoom webinar. Book via Eventbrite.
Positive Changes is a group of volunteers with learning disabilities who discuss how they can make life better for people in Leeds. The group is working with Mencap to coproduce videos which teach people different skills and show them activities which can help them to stay healthy and happy. Hosted in partnership with Mencap, this webinar will be an opportunity to hear from Positive Changes members about the project and watch some of the videos they have made.
Hosted in partnership with Mindwell, this panel discussion will see third sector, research and UX/UI industry leaders explore how mindful UX/UI design can help create safer, more inclusive digital spaces that support better mental health.
Hosted by Forum Central, this workshop will provide a summary of what Forum Central, Voluntary Action Leeds and Third Sector Leeds, as key advocates for the sector, feel are the third sector’s needs around digital transformation, in line with what the sector has fed into the strategy to date. 100% Digital Leeds will be part of the expert panel.
This webinar will explore how arts and culture programming can support improved digital skills, confidence, and capability in care homes and other care settings. The webinar will be a first look at the impact of the Leeds Arts In Care Homes Day programme and its success in supporting the arts participation and digital confidence of residents and staff living and working in care settings.
Leeds is one of nine councils awarded funding 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. 100% Digital Leeds have been funded to develop a Community-based Model to Increase Digital Inclusion, and run a series of related workshops with five councils selected by LGA. Interested parties can follow our progress on the project Miro board. The completed model will be published and launched in December this year.
Workshop three: Forming and implementing a plan
The third workshop in the series of four broke down stage three of the community-based model. This session built upon work done in the previous workshops – exploring the digital inclusion barriers faced by a particular community, and potential solutions to overcome them – and focused on turning those identified solutions into an action plan.
We were joined by representatives from Coventry, East Riding of Yorkshire, and Plymouth, councils. These partners, alongside West Berkshire and London Borough of Bexley, are working with us to sense-check the model, ensuring the content is useful for Local Authorities with a different geographical or demographic make up to Leeds, and councils at different points in their digital inclusion journey.
Stage three content and feedback
Stage three – forming and implementing a plan – contains the following steps:
The role of Local Authorities as enablers rather than deliverers
Identifying and securing suitable funding to support capacity for digital inclusion, recognising digital as a key enabler
Making the most of partnerships to maximise resources
The benefits of bringing digital inclusion partners together as networks
Next steps
The fourth and final workshop will take place in September, and will be on ‘Understanding and measuring success’. Following this, the 100% Digital Leeds team will write up the model as it will appear on the Digital Inclusion Toolkit, and this will be shared with partners for review. A final summative evaluation workshop will take place in November prior to the launch of the final finished model in December.
