Arts in Care Showcase and digital arts programme plans

On Friday 19 May 100% Digital Leeds hosted an interactive event at Leeds Central Library showcasing the amazing work that is currently being delivered in care settings by arts and cultural organisations including Yorkshire Dance, Leeds Playhouse, and Ascendance.

During the session 100% Digital Leeds introduced the plans for the Arts in Care Homes Digital Arts Programme 2023 and attendees were encouraged to offer feedback and suggestions for the programme as we work towards removing any barriers to taking part and making it as beneficial and rewarding for both the staff and care recipients as possible.

“Access to culture is a human right, as much in residential care as when living in the community. The benefits to health and wellbeing of participation in arts and culture, including in older age, are well established.”

Baring Foundation, Every Care Home a Creative Home

An opportunity to sample some of the arts activities open to care homes

The event was attended by care staff who work in an Activity or Wellbeing Coordinator role and attendees took part in taster sessions of the various arts opportunities available to care homes in partnership with local arts organisations. The attendees were able to get a feel for what it would be like to experience the workshops as a participant and also had time to have further conversations with the arts organisations to discuss how they can work together in the future.

Yorkshire dance

Yorkshire Dance ran a movement to music session from their In Mature Company project which saw everyone move and stretch and tap their toes to the rhythm of the music, strengthening and warming up muscles and waking up our bodies. In Mature Company run regular online Zoom sessions allowing staff and residents in different homes to connect and share in a joyful experience with each other.

Leeds Playhouse

Leeds Playhouse introduced us to the work that they do with participants with learning disabilities, using sounds, smell, music and some very exciting props, they brought the theatre journey to life through imagination and interactivity. Leeds Playhouse also run Heydays which is the largest and longest-running arts programme for older people in UK theatre.

Ascendance

Ascendance had us up on our feet, moving to the music with some very snazzy footwork. Their mission is to provide exercise, creative and performance opportunities for individuals with neurodisabilities and those over 55, improving physical and mental wellbeing, coordination, balance and social cohesion. They are committed to supporting the digital inclusion of participants and have worked with 100% Digital Leeds to embed digital inclusion throughout their service. Read more about Ascendance’s work supporting digital inclusion.

Carousel of arts and cultural organisations

There was also the opportunity for participants to speak to other organisations about their work with Leeds’ communities, we were privileged to welcome RJC Dance, Leeds Libraries, Maria Kapsali, The Performance Ensemble and Leeds International Concert Series.

Arts in Care Digital Arts Programme 2023

This year’s Arts in Care Homes Digital Arts Programme 2023 will take place from Monday 25 to Friday 29 September. The programme will be a series of free arts and creative events and activities with a digital element delivered by arts organisations and available for care providers, following on from the national Arts in Care Homes Day on 24 September.

If you are an organisation that would like to submit an interactive digital activity to be included in this year’s programme then get in touch with 100% Digital Leeds and book on to the webinar where we will give more information about how to get involved. The webinar will be recorded and video will be circulated to attendees after the event.

If you are working in a care setting please contact us and we will be able to give you more information about how to take part in this year’s programme.

Arts in Care Digital Arts Programme Webinar

Wednesday 28 June, 12:30 – 1:00pm

Aimed at arts and cultural organisation and any other organisation interested at submitting an activity for inclusion in this year’s Arts in Care Digital Arts Programme. This webinar is an opportunity to hear more about the proposed plans for Arts in Care Homes Day in Leeds, to find out how they can get involved and to also hear about the difference that being involved in creative activity can make to people in care.

Register on Eventbrite

New Digital Inclusion Officer in East Leeds

The Old Fire Station recently appointed a Digital Inclusion Officer who will not only offer support to those who come to the Old Fire Station, but also help the organisations along the York Road increase their capacity and ability to support digital inclusion for anyone living in the York Road area of the city. The 12 month post is supported by NHS Health Inequalities Funding to support the development of the local Digital Health Hub Network.

Chris, the new Digital Inclusion Officer, is passionate about why digital inclusion matters so much in today’s world:

“The pandemic and lock-downs really highlighted the need to help people with their digital knowledge and confidence. Giving people the ability to stay in contact with loved ones and access information about local organisations and healthcare is such an important aspect in terms of health and wellbeing. If we can help people become more confident online – we can open up a whole world of possibilities for them.”

Chris Bamber, Digital Inclusion Officer at The Old Fire Station.

Increasing digital support at The Old Fire Station

The Old Fire Station in Gipton opened its doors as a new hub for the community in 2017 after significant investment and renovation. It now houses six different not-for-profit organisations which, between them, offer support to a huge number of people in East Leeds. The Old Fire Station is proud to be one of Leeds’ Digital Health Hubs, offering a safe warm space, free wifi, access to digital equipment, and a variety of support to improve digital skills and confidence.

Chris has started weekly digital drop-in sessions at the Old Fire Station on Thursdays between 10am and 1pm, offering support to anyone with any queries about how to use a device they have or just want to get started. As well as help and advice, people can make use of free wifi, access laptops and other devices, and be gifted sims with free 4G data. These drop-ins are supported by the Leeds City Council mobile Community Hub which is parked directly outside and can offer assistance regarding benefits, housing, and other council transactions.

From chatting to the different organisations running groups from the Fire Station, it became clear that there were a few big issues that people raise when discussion their digital exclusion and reasons behind it. Costs, the overwhelming nature of the topic, online safety and fear of scams are all areas which Chris wants to help people overcome.

Increasing digital support across the York Road area

Alongside the help sessions provided at the Fire Station, Chris works as part of the 100% Digital Leeds team building organisational capacity to deliver digital inclusion support across the York Road area of Leeds. He is working closely with all current Digital Health Hubs in the area to help expand or improve their digital sessions as well as to bring in other local organisations who want to join and themselves become Digital Health Hubs. Operating as a network across the York Road area means the organisations can highlight best practises and share resources and information.

“Having the ability to link up and share knowledge with other organisations so we can all help each other is wonderful. It means we can all do as much as we can to give our members the maximum amount of help.”

Burmantofts Senior Action

Challenges and opportunities ahead

Chris has spent his first weeks in the role meeting organisations delivering digital inclusion support in the local area, meeting with organisations like Richmond Hill Elderly Aid, St Vincent’s, and Cross Gates and District Good Neighbours. The common theme across all network partners is that, while demand and necessity for digital inclusion support is growing all the time, the capacity of organisations to deliver is stretched to the maximum.

Over the coming months Chris will be working with organisations to secure further funding to support increased access to equipment and capacity to support more people with their digital skills and confidence. Chris is also working with a corporate partner to explore how their corporate social responsibility volunteering offer could offer organisations working across the area support to deliver their digital skills support sessions.

If you work with people living in the York Road area who would benefit from digital inclusion support and would be interested in hearing from Chris Contact us.

Partner profile: Leeds Irish Health and Homes

Leeds Irish Health and Homes (LIHH) have been providing services to the Irish and wider community in Leeds for over 25 years.  Their services range from outreach support to regular luncheon clubs and tea dances, health and wellbeing support, digital inclusion support and more specialist unemployment, bereavement, and mental health support.

“Seeing people’s digital skills increase and broaden their learning is a real sense of empowerment for them and gives LIHH a real sense of pride. People are no longer afraid to ask questions, they have achieved both self-belief and achievement in their learning. It’s great to see the difference it’s making to their lives.”

Sarah McBride, Services Manager at Leeds Irish Health and Homes

Digital inclusion in response to the pandemic

During the pandemic in 2020 LIHH knew that they needed to respond rapidly to needs highlighted during lockdown and enable people to be digitally connected across the city. They were astonished at the demand for digital, especially from many older people in their communities. Through conversations with their members they knew they needed to develop an offer of digital skills support and look at providing many with equipment.

LIHH began working in partnership with 100% Digital Leeds when a successful funding bid from the Emigrant Support Programme meant they were able to recruit a Community Digital Inclusion Officer.  The demand for digital inclusion support was high across the Irish communities in Leeds and LIHH looked at ways the new role could support digital inclusion and build and develop their offer.   

The Community Digital Inclusion Officer, Anne, began delivering online groups, sparking engagement with sessions themed around topics of interest such as culture, Irish radio, online chats and quizzes.

“We have witnessed people emailing each other rather than calling each other which has been wonderful, and carrying out shopping trips online rather than going out to do a grocery shop.”

Sarah McBride, Services Manager at Leeds Irish Health and Homes

She has since then fully developed a face-to-face digital skills offer with a variety of sessions delivered each week.  These are very well attended and are within the LIHH centre, or at community locations around the city such as The Old Fire Station in Gipton. LIHH also have several tablets they use in sessions and lend to members, helping people across the city who don’t have access to a device or wifi.   

Digital access has helped support members’ mental health

The number of people attending the sessions has increased thanks to the fun digital tools and apps during the sessions. Apps like Wordle and Waffle have supported many of their older members to overcome loneliness and isolation and helped them to stimulate the brain. The Memory Lane app has been immensely popular, especially great for members living with Dementia, where they can access lots of resources for reminiscence. Through Anne’s ongoing commitment and hard work, the number of people now accessing digital support through LIHH has increased and demand continues to be high.

Anne also offers one-to-one digital support in the community for those who are not confident in a group setting or who may be unable to leave their property due to challenging physical health issues.

“Having that personal touch always makes a huge difference to our service users and encourages further learning.”

Anne Pearce, Community Digital Inclusion Officer at Leeds Irish Health and Homes.

One member who had struggled with lifelong depression now attends the LIHH Digital session every Friday and it has given him a sense of purpose and something to look forward to each week. Another gentleman who was really struggling with both loneliness and grief was supported by Anne to create a digital book as a legacy for his family. The sessions continue to be life changing for so many, one member in her 80s can now use her tablet to access online mass which means so much to her.

“We have seen people’s confidence grow, friendships develop through Zoom, and online activities delivered. People are feeling less isolated and lonely. People have seen an improvement in their mental health. The eagerness to learn and be digitally connected has been very impressive. We like to be able to offer Zoom and face to face to give people the option and support those that are less mobile.”

Sarah McBride, Services Manager at Leeds Irish Health and Homes

Key partnership projects

Leeds Irish Health and Homes are a key member on the Older Peoples Digital Inclusion Network and regularly share tips and tools in best supporting older people with digital.  This network has created strong working relationships with LIHH and many other organisations across the city supporting older people with digital, which has helped them with resources, sharing ideas and building confidence in delivering digital support sessions. Being a member of the network means they have partnered with 100% Digital Leeds on a number of projects.

Becoming a Digital Health Hub

LIHH are part of the Central North Local Care Partnership and with the support of 100% Digital Leeds are developing as a Digital Health Hub.  There is high demand across their members for support with online prescriptions and self-management apps, and LIHH are really excited to be able to help people manage their health and wellbeing with digital. 

“It’s so empowering to be able to help people manage their own appointments and prescriptions and giving them access to their own care record.  We don’t want anyone to be left behind or excluded.”

Sarah McBride, Services Manager at Leeds Irish Health and Homes

Be Online Stay Safe

LIHH were successful in joining the BOSS project which is a partnership project between 100% Digital Leeds and Leeds Older People’s Forum focused on supporting members to improve their media literacy skills and feeling confident and safe online. This project will run until January 2024.

The sessions have started, and they’ve received such positive feedback on how much they are needed and how much more confident members feel after receiving support around online safety and how to avoid scams. The fear of being online has previously prevented many members from using digital but these sessions are giving more people the confidence to go online and feel safe in doing so.  

Looking forwards

The current challenge across LIHH is capacity as the demand for more digital inclusion support remains high. They are working with 100% Digital Leeds to look for further funding to recruit a second digital inclusion worker. This would enable them to reach further communities in the city and provide more digital support for those that need it. They would like to expand their Digital Health Hub offer and provide more at home support too.  Recruiting this second worker will be vital to supporting so many more people across the city with digital inclusion, enabling them to do the things they want and need to do online

A case study

W, aged 79 is from the West coast of Ireland and has lived in Leeds for 60 years. He is socially isolated and lives, by choice, alone without a TV. He was also digitally excluded. When Anne visited, he explained that in the past he has not wanted to go out and does not want to get like that again, describing himself as a loner. He enjoys reading and is very proud of his Irish roots. He is also conscious that his spelling is poor and this was a barrier to him learning. Together he and Anne worked on building confidence around this and using a keyboard. They also found that a stylus helped with what W referred to as his “workman hands and large fingers”. 

Anne showed W some YouTube videos on her mobile phone and he loved listening to the music. He has a banjo which he would like to learn to play properly. Anne explained about YouTube tutorials and how he could learn at home and develop his skills. This hooked him and through Barca’s Men’s Health Unlocked project Anne secured him a tablet with a data sim. 

Anne visited W and showed him how to use the tablet to access YouTube and she found an Irish tutor who has free tutorials to play the banjo. W uses the tablet every day and it gives him a purpose. He watches videos to learn where to place his hands then practises. Having a tablet makes a difference to him and he enjoys using it. He uses up the data allowance each month as he spends so much time playing. 

W is very practical, having spent his working life doing manual work. He loved using the tablet to find out how to make items from wood and metal and recycling. He was also studying how to fix a battery and how to pick locks. He uses the internet to find information such as song lyrics, he was looking for Rod Stewart.

Feedback from W is that he is loving the tablet and his learning journey. He has a supportive family but does not want to bother them at work, so the tablet occupies W during the day. He is not interested in an email address yet but is discussing it with his daughter moving forward. He has also been introduced to Zoom.

W has gained a lot of confidence using the tablet and is very engaged as a result. When he speaks to his family on the telephone he has conversation to share and is building up his skills. 

Inclusive employment film project

Using money awarded from Inclusion International, a team of people with learning disabilities have created a film to educate employers on how they can make their workplaces more inclusive.

The film explores what’s already happening in the city, how organisations can remove barriers, and how workplaces can benefit from having people with learning disabilities as part of their team. 

Nicky Lines, Autism and Learning Disability Inclusion Coordinator, applied for the funding for this film and supported throughout the making of the film.  100% Digital Leeds’s Autism and Learning Disabilities Digital Inclusion Network has been exploring how digital inclusion can help people with learning disabilities to gain employment and to thrive in their roles.

Inclusive Employment Film Project

The film was successfully launched with a screening at Leeds Industrial Museum attended by funders, partners, and contributers.

Tweet from Cafe Leep

Arts in care showcase: strengthening partnerships between care settings and creative organisations in Leeds

100% Digital Leeds is hosting an event for activities coordinators and managers working in a care setting showcasing the wealth of arts and culture activities on offer across the city for the benefit of care recipients. Care settings could include: care homes, hospitals, day services, supported living, Recovery Hubs, and hospices.

The event will take place on Friday 19 May, starting at 10am at Leeds Central Library. Free tickets are bookable on Eventbrite.

“The encouragement and excitement to use more digital resources in creative ways benefits not only residents’ connections with the community and their families, but digital inclusion also for staff increasing their motivation and confidence with digital resources. Having the support of 100% Digital Leeds has been fantastic for our care homes.”

Iria Cunha, Wellbeing Development Manager, Springfield Care Villages

The event will feature free interactive taster sessions from arts organisations

Attendees will have the opportunity to sample a range of arts and creative activities delivered by arts organisations looking for opportunities to build partnerships with care settings, focussing on highlighting opportunities for digital arts participation.

In Mature Company taster session from Yorkshire Dance

In Mature Company brings dance and music into care homes across Leeds, to improve physical activity levels and reduce boredom and loneliness for older adults living with dementia. This practical workshop supported by a dance artist and live musician will be an opportunity for care staff to experience the programme.

Launch of the Arts in Care Homes Digital Arts Programme 2023

100% Digital Leeds will introduce the Arts in Care Homes Digital Arts Programme 2023 which will be taking place the week of the 25 September. The programme will be a series of free arts and creative events and activities with a digital element delivered by arts organisations and available for care providers. This session will be an opportunity for care staff to feedback about last year’s programme and help shape the offer for 2023.

The Creative Ageing Treasury of Leeds

Pick up your copy of the Creative Ageing Treasury of Leeds which contains 15 step-by-step arts activities contributed by artists and organisations who deliver outstanding work for, by and with older people.

The event will also feature sessions from Leeds Libraries, RJC Dance and other Leeds-based organisations. The Eventbrite page will be updated as content is confirmed.

Register on Eventbrite

Arts and culture participation is beneficial to care recipients

Improved access to arts and culture programming has been shown to support people’s improved health and wellbeing. The Baring Foundation (2011) report An Evidence Review of the Impact of Participatory Arts on Older People summarises some of the benefits:

  • Improving mental wellbeing, increased confidence, and increased self-esteem.
  • Embracing new and positive aspects to their identity and life role.
  • Counterbalancing the mental wellbeing difficulties associated with periods of loss which can increase the risk of low mood, anxiety and social isolation.
  • Improving cognitive functioning, communication and memory.
  • Increased sense of pleasure, enjoyment of life, and creative thinking.

The Baring Foundation published Every Care Home A Creative Home with the purpose of making the case for care home residents being able to access creativity and culture whenever they want, including increasing access to digital channels and tools.

Better Leeds Communities to host place-based Digital Inclusion Officer roles in NHS funded initiative

Better Leeds Communities in Burley Park will host a member of staff whose role is to support the development, delivery, and coordination of digital inclusion across the local area. 

Though hosted by Better Leeds Communities, the new Digital Inclusion Officer will work with a range of partners across the Woodsley and Holt Park Local Care Partnership (LCP) area. They will take a place-based approach to improving and increasing the digital inclusion support available to meet the needs of local communities. The Digital Inclusion Officer will be matrix-managed by 100% Digital Leeds and we expect to see the addition of more place-based roles linked to LCP areas in the near future.

“At Better Leeds Communities we are acutely aware of the rapid rise of digital health technologies and the challenges this poses to people in our community who do not have the skills or means to engage with these technologies. We are delighted to be hosting the Digital Inclusion Officer for the Woodsley and Holt Park area.”

Taira Kayani, Chief Executive Officer at Better Leeds Communities

Supporting digital inclusion for health participation locally

The post supports the continued development of Digital Health Hubs across the Woodsley and Holt Park LCP, community partners supporting the digital inclusion needs of local communities to improve digital health participation and reduce health inequalities.

Forming a network of Digital Health Hubs is part of the implementation of the 100% Digital Leeds community-based approach to digital inclusion for improved health participation, delivered in partnership with Local Care Partnerships. There are currently 27 Digital Health Hubs in Leeds, across York Road and Beeston and Middleton LCP areas.

“Hosting this post affords BLC the opportunity to increase our commitment to enabling people to improve their health outcomes. By enabling us to work with community partners to increase digital health participation, thereby reducing health inequalities, the post will create lasting impact in our community.”

Taira Kayani, Chief Executive Officer at Better Leeds Communities

The city-wide roll out of place-based Digital Health Hub networks

The approach is being rolled-out across the city with Hubs currently in development across Woodsley and Holt Park, HATCH, Central, and Morley LCPs. This development wave has been supported with £220,000 NHS Health Inequalities funding which has seen 15 community organisations receive funding for the purchase of digital equipment or the recruitment of staff to support digital inclusion. Successsful organisations include Moortown Baptist Church, Caring Hands, Moor Allerton Elderly Care, Leeds Irish Health and Homes, Feel Good Factor, Applebox Company, St Vincents, Hamara, Leep1, Burmantofts Senior Action, HAVA, Carers Leeds, and Bevan Healthcare.

This NHS Health Inequalities funding has also supported the recruitment of a Digital Inclusion Officer to support digital inclusion development in the York Road LCP area, hosted by The Old Fire Station, the first community organisation in the city to host such a role. 100% Digital Leeds and The Old Fire Station were pleased to welcome Chris Bamber into the role earlier this week.

A further two development waves will see the roll out of Digital Health Hubs across the remaining LCPs over the next couple of years.

“Local Care Partnerships aim to bring organisations together and pool resources to be able to support communities better together. The new role at The Old Fire Station is a really exciting development, a way of making sure that all of the Digital Health Hubs in the LCP get the support they need for local people.”

Kim Adams, Programme Director, Local Care Partnerships Development Programme

Partner profile: Ascendance

Ascendance is a Leeds-based charity working in the Dance for Health sector, combining professional work with a community dance company, weekly classes and outreach projects. Ascendance’s mission is to provide exercise, creative and performance opportunities for individuals with neurodisabilities and those over 55, improving physical and mental wellbeing, coordination, balance and social cohesion. Ascendance is committed to supporting the digital inclusion of participants. The organisation is a member of the Arts and Culture Digital Inclusion Network and has worked with 100% Digital Leeds to embed digital inclusion throughout their service. Most recently Ascendance has been awarded £195,992 from The National Lottery Community Fund for a new digital inclusion programme, ‘No One Left Behind’.

“The class is my only contact with others living with Parkinson’s. That’s a really important part of my coping mechanism.”

Participant

Hybrid programming to support arts participation and combat social isolation

Ascendance’s interest in digital work was sparked during the pandemic with the desire to combat the isolation that many of its participants faced through staying at home.

In 2021, the organisation launched a series of hybrid creative classes and performances with their Parkinson’s groups which attracted people from across Yorkshire. The programme supported members who were unable to join face-to-face sessions to use Zoom to engage with the programme online. 70% of participants were supported to engage with the programme and, at the peak of the pandemic, the number of workshops was increased from one session per week to five.

The performance of Part 1: “Into the Sea”, included the first ever hybrid set up at Leeds City Museum as part of World Disability Day. Parts of this project led them to create “HYBRID – The Film”, a documentary by Flygirl Films capturing creative journeys in people’s homes.

HYBRID the film

Even after the lifting of lockdown and the return to face-to-face programming, Ascendance has continued to offer remote programming, recognising that people can find their digital offer more accessible than their ‘in person’ workshops for a number of reasons. Ascendance currently offers a weekly Zoom dance session which is free to join, and is attended by regulars as well as those who generally attend sessions face-to-face but aren’t able to that week because of their health or any other change of circumstance. Their online neuro dance sessions help people with Parkinson’s, MS and other neurological conditions stay active for longer, delay progression of symptoms, develop new neuropathways
from the mind to the body and help improve balance, coordination and flexibility.

Supporting digital inclusion for care homes

Ascendance has contributed digital content to a number of initiatives using digital methods to reach care home residents who could not otherwise participate in creative dance activity, and supporting digital inclusion. The organisation has run online sessions for Leeds Care Delivery Service as part of the service’s ‘Wellbeing Wednesdays’ programme.

In to the Garden video

Ascendance contributed a digital resource to Creative Ageing Treasury of Leeds – a free activity book created by Leeds Arts Health and Wellbeing Network and partners, full of creative things to do by and with older people. It contains 15 step-by-step arts activities contributed by artists and organisations who deliver outstanding work for, by and with older people.

Ascendance ran an online workshop as part of the city’s Arts in Care Homes 2023 programme, a week-long programme of free creative workshops aimed at care home residents in celebration of The National Day of Arts in Care Homes, a national event that takes place each year. 14 arts organisations hosted a total of 24 workshops over the course of five days with the aim of highlighting the ways that care settings can utilise digital to engage with the city’s arts sector and increase arts participation for care residents.

“It was good to be involved in a wider event which enabled us to market our provision and see who else are working in the sector. We would like to extend our zoom provision in the future and this gives us confidence that there is a demand to keep moving forward with our digital at home programme. Joined up working means that we can involve more people in our online work, and have more impact regionally and nationally.”

No One Left Behind programme

Ascendance has recently been celebrating after being awarded £195,992 over 3 years in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to build on existing digital programmes and innovate further within the dance and digital arena. Their project, ‘No One Left Behind’ aims to engage more people with neurodisabilities (such as Parkinson’s and MS), across a variety of settings, and address the growing digital divide the older community is facing, especially in areas with little or no in-person provision.

‘No One Left Behind’ will see a series of existing and new initiatives including zoom classes, digital training for the older community, outreach programmes and a digital dance, arts, and wellbeing festival.

The project aims to engage and benefit more people with neurodisabilities to:

  • participate in physical and creative dance activity that will support physical and mental wellbeing and help to delay the progression of their disease.
  • learn how to effectively and safely navigate digital spaces, so that they may access more online.
  • give opportunities to positively showcase their abilities and talents to a wider public audience.

“The energy and personality of Ascendance comes from the profiles of its heroes, Rachel and Emma, who make it possible for us Parkinson’s patients to navigate issues of social isolation through contemporary dance.”

Shafik, Participant

Working in partnership with Leeds Community Foundation and the city’s tech sector

100% Digital Leeds is working with Leeds Community Foundation and the city’s tech sector to increase the amount of funding and resource available to build the capacity of third sector partners and increase digital inclusion for people and communities across Leeds.

Leeds Digital Ball

The Leeds Digital Ball is an annual charity event to raise money from digital and technology companies in the city. The charity ball organisers are made up of a board of members and advisors from across the Leeds region who came together as a collective to help represent the local tech community in supporting digitally excluded communities and driving positive change. The inaugural Ball took place in 2022 and saw £50,000 raised and donated to Leeds Digital Inclusion Fund. The fund supports the ongoing development of the city’s digital inclusion infrastructure across the third sector.

Leeds Digital Inclusion Fund

100% Digital Leeds worked with Leeds Community Foundation (LCF) to develop the Leeds Digital Inclusion Fund, a permanent grant funding stream administered by LCF in partnership with 100% Digital Leeds. The 100% Digital Leeds team worked with LCF to write the funding criteria and grant application process for charities to bid into the fund. The fund supports community organisations in the development of sustainable digital inclusion interventions enhancing the organisations’ core offers, ensuring that people and communities in Leeds have the skills, support and equipment to be active online, now and in the future. The 100% Digital Leeds team is represented on the judging panel and offer support to successful applicants to implement their digital inclusion plans.

“We find it so valuable to work with 100% Digital Leeds. Their knowledge of community organisations, and the practical support and advice they offer, is helping to make Leeds a more digitally inclusive place for everyone who lives here. This makes them the perfect partner for Leeds Community Foundation and our work around digital inclusion.

Kate Hainsworth, Chief Executive, Leeds Community Foundation

The initial funding pot of £50,000 was made up of funds raised by the Leeds Digital Ball. In August 2022 five grants of £10,000 were awarded to charities who have used the money to increase or enhance their digital inclusion offer.

Between them the five funded organisations support a range of people and communities more likely to be digitally excluded:

  • Your Back Yard received funding to expand their well-established digital and social inclusion offer for older people. Using the funding to employ a dedicated outreach worker, purchase more tablets and data, and recruit more volunteers, enabling them to deliver more sessions in Headingly and Holt Park.
  • Smart Works received funding to embed digital skills and access support in their work supporting women to enter and re-enter the workplace by helping clients with workwear, confidence-building and coaching for job interviews.
  • Highrise Project received funding to support the embedding of digital inclusion into their existing creative skills and mentoring offer for people in Armley, including the purchase of equipment.
  • Meanwood Valley Urban Farm received funding to support them to build digital elements into their HOOF (Help Out On the Farm) group.  The HOOF group is a group of people with learning disabilities who learn new skills, work with animals and improve their health and wellbeing in a variety of settings at the farm.
  • Burmantofts Senior Action received funding to build upon their existing digital inclusion offer and expand outreach within the community by employing an Outreach Worker and establishing a tech-lending library and data-gifting service.

Plans for 2023

Press has begun for this Leeds Digital Ball which will take place on 11th May 2023 at the Royal Armouries. Tickets are now on sale.

100% Digital Leeds is working with Leeds Community Foundation to develop the next round of the grants scheme, with the fund due to be announced in early Summer of this year.

Leeds arts in care homes digital inclusion programme

In September 2022 100% Digital Leeds and the Arts and Culture Digital Inclusion Network curated a week-long programme of free creative workshops aimed at care home residents in celebration of The National Day of Arts in Care Homes, a national event that takes place each year.

The programme aims to:

  • highlight the ways that care settings can utilise digital to engage with the city’s arts sector and increase arts participation for care residents.
  • make new and lasting connections between individual care settings and arts organisations in the city.
  • support the improved digital skills and confidence of staff and residents in care settings.
  • support improved arts participation for care audiences.

14 arts organisations hosted a total of 24 workshops over the course of five days. Over 20 locations providing care engaged with the series, with many attending multiple workshops. Some virtual workshops were attended by as many as 10 different care settings. The programme included interactive workshops on music, dance, embroidery, and more, delivered by organisations such as Opera North, Ascendance, and Hyde Park Picture House, incorporating such activities as movement, games, and reminiscence.

“13 residents took part in the workshop with Opera North and described it as ‘different, fun, and informative’. It was easy to join online and we’d be keen to attend similar workshops in the future.”

Seacroft Grange Village

Utilising digital to support arts and culture participation

Participation in the programme enabled arts organisations to engage with audiences in care settings who would find it difficult to visit arts venues by connecting with audiences virtually.

“It was really lovely to be able to deliver a fun, musical session to people we may not otherwise reach – it gave us the opportunity to showcase our offer and engage those who are not able to come and visit us in person, which is great!”

Leeds Libraries

A study on The Impact of Arts and Cultural Engagement on Population Health published by UCL in March of this year explored whether there are differences in how arts participation affects people who engage with in-person arts activities compared to virtual or online activities, with virtual engagement found to be only marginally less effective.

The programme supported care settings in offering residents a range of sessions on different art forms in a relatively short space of time, allowing residents more freedom of choice. Some care settings engaged with five or more workshops over the course of the programme.

“Our Care Home loved the Zoom session today, and we’re going to try the ballet tomorrow!”

Aireview Care Home

The Baring Foundation published report Every Care Home A Creative Home makes the case for residents in care being able to access creativity and culture whenever they want, with content being relevant and person-centred, linked to individuals’ needs, interests, and preferences. The report points out that, ‘realistically, this means access to digital channels and tools.’

Much of the programme was made up of ongoing activity that is available all year round but is not generally accessed by care residents. Taking part in the programme meant that arts organisations could connect with a wider range of care settings to promote their offer. In some instances, partnerships were formed that are ongoing. It helped arts organisations to appreciate the potential for further engagement with care settings should they continue to develop their virtual and digital offers.

“It was good to be involved in a wider event which enabled us to market our provision. We would like to extend our Zoom provision in the future and this work has given us confidence that there is a demand to keep moving forward with our Digital at Home programme.”

Ascendance

Supporting improved digital inclusion for care residents and staff

“Some attention has been paid to the relative lack of digital technology and connectivity in care homes. There is no question that digital tools will become ever more important in a whole series of ways in care homes, including for arts and creativity.”

Baring Foundation, 2022

With growing technological advancements, it is increasingly important that care settings have the access to equipment and connectivity, and staff have the required digital skills and confidence to engage with the digital world. This programme gave care staff the opportunity to develop their skills and confidence and understand the ease and practicality of using digital tools to bring external activity into care settings, thereby supporting the 100% Digital Leeds priority of developing digital inclusion in care home settings.

Each of the workshops in this programme had a digital element with the majority being delivered virtually over Zoom. Poor digital infrastructure in care settings was a barrier to engagement, with some settings struggling to engage and others being unable to engage at all. Some care settings lacked the equipment to engage with the programme and whilst some were able to invest in equipment such as a tablet or HDMI cable, others were not able to. Poor or no connectivity meant some care settings were unable to engage with the programme or to experience the programme fully.

“There were some connectivity issues at two of the care settings and they had to re-join a couple of times and then keep their cameras off, so it was difficult to tell how the session was being received.”

Leeds Libraries

Staff’s digital skills and confidence was also a barrier to engagement. For some it was the first time they had used Zoom to support residents to participate with external programming. While some care settings found joining a virtual session a straightforward process, some did struggle, and more support to develop staff digital skills and confidence is needed.

The initial technical support required to set up the connection to the Zoom session as a barrier for some care staff”

RJC Dance

More support is also needed to improve staff’s and residents’ confidence in engaging with the features of Zoom, such as the Chat function, to get the most out of the session.

“The difficulty in connecting with people watching is that if they did not respond to the chat then it was hard to gauge which parts they were enjoying.  Our experience of the last few years is that this is very dependent on the ability of the person managing the tech at the home. The care settings who logged on stayed right until the end, so they must have enjoyed watching it!”

LiveMusicNow

A small number of workshops were delivered face-to-face in care settings, incorporating digital tools into the session. These sessions appeared to have the most benefit on the digital inclusion of individual care residents as arts practitioners were able to directly engage with individual residents and take a person-centred approach to introducing digital to them.

“Victor hadn’t previously been interested but after talking to him I learned that he was interested in how to watch different channels in his room, so I showed him how to use iPlayer. He really enjoyed watching Frozen Planet 2 with subtitles, as he is hard of hearing. As a result the staff said he would be able to borrow the iPads they have at the home.”

Leeds Libraries, about a resident at Knowle Manor

Plans for 2023

Both care settings and arts organisations are keen for the programme to return this year. The cross-sector steering group has been brought back together to take this forward and launch events are planned for May, coinciding with Creativity and Wellbeing Week, Dementia Action, and Age of Creativity Festival month.

100% Digital Leeds is partnering with Yorkshire Dance and other Arts and Culture Digital Inclusion Network partners to develop an arts and creativity event for Care Homes Activity Coordinators. This will be a practical and engaging face-to-face session highlighting the offers of the city’s arts organisations and will launch the September programme to care staff.

We will also host a webinar aimed at arts organisations interested in contributing to the programme. This will share key information about the offer and process, including highlighting potential funding opportunities for arts organisations.

“Participants described our workshop as “cheering,” “invigorating,” and “a real tonic. Thank you for championing the use of digital with the elders, I hope this can be a regular initiative in the city.”

RJC Dance

For more information or to get involved with our plans for this year’s programme contact us.

Supporting families with young children

100% Digital Leeds has been working with organisations supporting families with young children to embed digital inclusion in their offers. Working with Children’s Centres, and the 0-19 Public Health Integrated Nursing Service (Health Visiting and School Nursing) within Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust (LCH), has helped us to understand the impact of digital exclusion on families with young children.

“Giving out phones and data has been a massive success for us, not only being able to give something to families that struggle on a daily basis with the cost of living but enabling them to make regular contact with services. We are keen to empower families and this really helps. Something so small really can make a difference to someone’s life.”

Elkie Jones, Family Outreach Worker

The families most likely to be digitally excluded have been found to be those on low incomes, unable to work and reliant on benefits. Lack of connectivity is the main barrier to digital inclusion, with a large proportion of families living with data poverty, unable to afford wifi and reliant on ‘pay as you go’ data, the most expensive way to buy data. For some families that do have access to a device such as a smartphone, one device is shared by the family, often leaving the mother without reliable access.

This can leave families without the ability to self-manage essentials such as Universal Credit or access support services for help. Women who experience domestic violence are often the most digitally excluded and those most negatively affected by that exclusion. They may be unable to make emergency calls to the police when incidents are happening, and be forced to wait until they drop the children at nursery or see an outreach worker.

“I was in a violent and abusive relationship. When my ex-partner moved out I was left with no access to a phone so I was unable to contact anyone for help. Since being gifted a phone with data I’ve been able to call services and text the Family Support Worker. I’ve been able to find a nursery place for my two-year-old.”

Parent supported by a Family Support Worker

Children’s Centres

Over the last year 100% Digital Leeds has worked with staff at Children’s Centres in the Gipton and Beeston areas of the city to understand the impact of digital exclusion on some of the families they support, and to put the relevant digital inclusion support in place.

Family Support Workers were provided with a small number of smartphones to gift to digitally excluded families, via Hubbub’s Community Calling project. They were also supported to join the Good Things Foundation’s National Databank, giving them the opportunity to gift 4G SIM cards with free data, calls, and texts, to families struggling with data poverty.

“It’s great to see the women we have been supporting become independent. Mums can contact us when they need support and don’t have to wait until their partner is home or they are allowed out of the home to get that support.”

Lisa Holliday, Senior Family Outreach Worker

Having access to digital devices and data has helped parents be more independent, reducing reliance on, and freeing up the capacity of, Family Support Workers. Families supported with connectivity have been able to work independently to:

  • look after their finances by managing their Universal Credit and using online banking
  • manage their health and wellbeing, and that of their families, by being able to make medical appointments and calls to Leeds Domestic Violence Service in private
  • manage their housing by bidding on social properties and reporting repairs
  • access learning and development by attending online learning sessions

“As a single parent of two small children, one who is undergoing assessment for autism, having access to a phone and credit has made such a difference to me. Being given my own phone with access to the internet means I can now access my Universal Credit without having to wait to use my sister’s phone all the time.”

Parent supported by a Family Support Worker

Families supported with connectivity being able to be more independent has meant the capacity of Family Support Workers has been freed up to support other families in need of help. Family Support Workers report previously having spent time visiting parents at home only for them to not be available, or not in a position to to be able to accept help at that time. This could be because of an abusive partner or another situation that couldn’t be clarified before visiting, as the parent was uncontactable because of a lack of device or data. As well as the Family Support Worker being able to check in with the parent before visiting, having the necessary device or data has allowed the parent to contact the Family Support Worker and other services when they need help. This has enabled them to proactively access the right support at the right time for them.

“Thank you so much for the data code. It’s meant I’ve been able to call the perinatal mental health team and arrange a different appointment for my anxiety and depression. With four children, all of us in a one-bed flat, being able to keep in touch with people makes such a difference to me.”

Parent supported by a Family Support Worker

Both Family Service Teams involved in the pilot have identified a need for equipment to be made available for use by families visiting their Centres. There is also a need for equipment that Family Support Workers can use to support people in home. Tablets borrowed from Leeds Libraries have been used to trial this, and funding is being identified to support the provision of equipment in the long term.

Baby Bubble Leeds

100% Digital Leeds is working with the 0-19 Public Health Integrated Nursing Service (Health Visiting and School Nursing) within Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust (LCH) and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) Midwifery Service to support the development of Baby Bubble Leeds, an initiative to access support and information from health professionals using closed, moderated Facebook groups. Baby Bubble Leeds is due to be officially launched in March.

“Digital health access is increasingly becoming an option across all aspects of the NHS. With this comes the necessity to ensure that we support people to overcome digital exclusion and digital poverty.”

Amanda Jackson, LCH 0-19 Clinical Team Manager and project co-lead.

Baby Bubble is aimed at supporting women who typically find accessing health services challenging, and face health inequalities as a result. Recognising the importance of sharing key public health messages and personalised advice through different methods, the scheme utilises Facebook as a digital platform already used by the women the service is aimed at, and one they feel comfortable with. As well as the current service offers of face-to-face contact, this ensures that all families have the best start and improve their health outcomes.

100% Digital Leeds is working with LCH to ensure that the project is as inclusive as possible, recognising that whilst the women the project is aimed at may find it useful to engage with health services digitally, they are also likely to face some barriers to engaging with digital. Clinicians will receive digital inclusion awareness training so they are in a position to identify the following barriers and offer support:

  • Data poverty: LCH has signed up to the National Databank, allowing clinicians to gift 4G data.
  • Digital skills: Clinicians will also be able to support women with the fundamentals of setting up an email account and Facebook account where necessary, and can signpost those who need additional support to Children’s Centres or their local Digital Health Hub.
  • eSafety: Through 100% Digital Leeds’s partnership with Three clinicians will be trained in how to moderate the Facebook groups and support parents to use Facebook and other social media safely.

“Through Baby Bubble Leeds we will provide practical advice and information not only on health-related topics, but also the tools and support to enable women to be digitally enabled in all aspects of their lives.”

Amanda Jackson, LCH 0-19 Clinical Team Manager and project co-lead.