Meanwood Valley Urban Farm is a 26 acre working farm, with a wide variety of animals. It is also a registered charity, and a major centre for community and environmental work. Established in 1980, their goal was to reconnect urban people with their food. The farm works in partnership with Leeds City Council in providing a community care scheme, where adults with learning disabilities receive training in gardening, literacy and numeracy.
Funding
During the summer of 2022 the 100% Digital team supported staff at Meanwood Valley Urban Farm to apply for the Leeds Digital Inclusion Fund. In August, the farm were successful in securing £10,000 to help 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.
The Autism and Learning Disability Digital Inclusion Coordinator has been working closely with staff at the farm to discuss how the money can be spent to benefit as many people as possible. Some of this money has now been spent on cameras which will be set up in the animal enclosures, allowing people to enjoy watching their favourite animals live. The 100% Digital team has supported staff at the farm to build links with care homes who support residents with learning disabilities, many of whom are too vulnerable to visit the farm in person. There are already plans in place for the footage to be streamed in the weekly Aspire Zoom sessions that take place in Aspire care homes and day centres citywide. This pioneering work is being promoted nationally in the City Farms Network meetings.
The 100% Digital team alerted us to the Leeds Digital Inclusion Fund through which we have achieved £10,000 of funding to use with our HOOF group. This will enable us to buy equipment which will both benefit the lives of our members and also allow us to share the amazing experience of being on the farm with a much wider audience. By linking us with Networks such as the Autism and Learning Disability Digital Inclusion Network, the team have also allowed us to promote our work to a wider audience and enabled us build links with other groups access opportunities for people with learning disabilities in the Leeds area.
Adam Ogilvie, CEO, Meanwood Valley Urban Farm
Equipment and digital skills support
A proportion of the Digital Inclusion Fund has also been spent on iPads, which will allow members of the HOOF group to develop their digital skills in an enjoyable way while they are working at the farm. The Autism and Learning Disability Coordinator is also delivering bespoke workshops in the New Year to ensure that staff on the farm have the digital skills and confidence that they need to support their members.
ALaDDIN
Meanwood Valley Urban Farm have now joined the Autism and Learning Disability Digital Inclusion Network. The network is made up of over forty organisations citywide who work to support Autistic People and People with Learning disabilities. The organisations meet monthly to share training and opportunities related to digital inclusion, to promote their work and to share good practice.
If you are interested in joining the Network or finding out more then please contact Nicky@pyramid.org.uk
Next steps
Meanwood Urban Valley Farm are working in partnership with 100% Digital Leeds and the Central North Local Care Partnership as part of the community-based approach to Digital Inclusion. The Farm is looking at ways they can develop and expand their current digital inclusion offer and become a Digital Health Hub, upskilling volunteers to support people with digital as well as looking at health and wellbeing walks to and from the farm.
Change For The Better (CHANFOB) are a non-profit organisation committed to connecting, supporting and empowering individuals and families living in Leeds, especially those from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds. The majority of their clients are from Black African communities across the city, but they are open to working with anyone who could benefit from their assistance.
CHANFOB and 100% Digital Leeds have been working together this year to grow their digital inclusion offer as they have a shared objective of trying to ensure that Leeds residents have equal opportunity to use digital tools, technology and services in the right way for them.
Funding
100% Digital Leeds helped CHANFOB to apply for funding through Mears Foundation and they were successful in receiving an £800 grant to launch their project CHANFONLINE: Digital Inclusion at Hunslet Community Hub, offering a programme of eight weekly, free, easy-to-follow basic digital skills sessions for digitally excluded adults.
CHANFOB used the grant to purchase three tablets which allowed service users to borrow a device, free of charge, to practise between sessions. Learners received ongoing support and guidance so that they could get the most out of their internet experience and remain safe online. The tablets also allowed CHANFOB volunteers to provide support in people’s homes where disabilities or other factors prevent them from being able to attend the weekly sessions.
Impact
The programme helped 24 learners to gain and improve their digital skills and provided CHANFOB with the experience and equipment to expand their digital inclusion offer and ensure it is sustainable and embedded throughout their activities.
“A lot of people we work with are lacking the skills and confidence to enjoy the benefits of computers and the internet. They think the internet is not safe for them and are scared of cyber-crime. Many of them don’t have a device or internet. Through these sessions we’ve been able to give people belief that they can engage with the digital world.”
“CHANFOB is committed to continuing to implement concrete programmes that will help individuals in Leeds, especially adults and older people, to gain and improve their digital skills and become less isolated, more confident, and more independent.”
“We would like to thank Mears Foundation, without their financial support this project would not have been a success. We would also like to thank 100% Digital Leeds and Hunslet Community Hub and Library, for their incredible ongoing support.”
Mingson Mingina, Chair and Digital Champion, CHANFOB.
Next Steps
100% Digital Leeds will help CHANFOB to seek further funding to continue offering provision and expand their services.
CHANFOB have joined the Online Centres Network and will apply to the National Databank, enabling them to provide SIM cards with free data, calls and texts to learners.
Following the conclusion of the initial 8-week programme, sessions are now every third Saturday of the month at Hunslet Community Hub.
CHANFOB would like more volunteers to help run CHANFONLINE, if you are interested or could help please email contact@chanfob.org
Canal Connections is a Community Interest Company (CIC) that is passionate about sharing Leeds’ beautiful canals with local people. The team has been working closely with 100% Digital Leeds to embed digital elements into the organisation’s offer.
ALaDDIN
Canal Connections is a member of the Autism and Learning Disability Digital Inclusion Network (ALaDDIN), made up of over forty organisations working to support autistic people and people with learning disabilities living across the city. The organisations meet monthly to share training and opportunities related to digital inclusion, to promote their work and to share good practice. Through this network that Canal Connections was able to identify and secure NHS funding to support health, wellbeing, and safe relationships for learning disabled and neurodiverse communities. The funding was used to support the formation of a new social group for adults with learning disabilities called ‘The Happy Wednesdays Group.’
The Happy Wednesdays Group
The Happy Wednesdays Group is an opportunity for adults with learning disabilities and their parents and carers to come together once a week. The members go out on a canal boat where they admire the beautiful scenery and spot wildlife including kingfishers, swans and hawks. They also have the opportunity to drive the boat and learn vital skills for navigating the canals. When they are not on the boats the group have the opportunity to partake in a craft activities such as rag rugging.
“People relax when they are on a boat in a way that is so difficult on dry land. The group love talking and admiring their surroundings, and they have formed healthy relationships with one another and with our staff. We hope that they will be able to build on their new skills and volunteer with future groups who meet on the boats. It’s so fantastic to see their confidence grow.”
Peter Forrest, Project Manager at Canal Connections.
Canal Connections bring digital elements into this programming in a way that is accessible and relevant, allowing members to develop their digital skills and confidence at their own pace by doing things meaningful to them. The group takes iPads with them on their boat trips and take photos and videos of their trips. The have also been using the tablets to create digital artwork, to download apps around health and wellbeing and to learn other transferable digital skills. Canal Connections has also joined the National Databank and are actively gifting SIM cards to members struggling to afford data.
Arts in Care Homes Day programming
Canal Connections were part of the Arts in Care Homes Day digital arts programme, which was a collaboration between the 100% Digital Team and the Arts and Culture Digital Inclusion Network. Canal Connections used this as an opportunity to live stream a canal boat ride into Care Home settings citywide, allowing vulnerable residents to enjoy the experience of a boat ride without risking their health and safety.
LEEDS 2023 is run by the Leeds Culture Trust, an independent charity set up in 2019 by Leeds City Council as part of its Culture Strategy and as a response to the cancellation of the UK’s participation in the European Capital of Culture competition. LEEDS 2023’s ambition is to deliver a transformational year of creative experiences connecting and benefiting people now and into the future.
100% Digital Leeds has partnered with LEEDS 2023 to explore how creative digital skills and software can be made more accessible to Leeds communities, an idea born via the Arts and Culture Digital Inclusion Network. Throughout 2022, 100% Digital Leeds and LEEDS 2023 worked together to run a series of workshops aimed at breaking down the perceptions that digital software is difficult to use, expensive and inaccessible to anyone outside of creative industries. The workshops were free, assumed no prior digital skills or knowledge, utilised free digital tools, and were led by experts from across Leeds’s creative industries. The various software packages highlighted in the workshops are free, powerful and support the creation of high-quality content.
“At LEEDS 2023 we are building up to our year of culture, letting culture loose across the city. These workshops are one of the ways we are supporting artists, creatives and organisations. Our aim is to give workshop participants the basic skills they need to begin experimenting and exploring their creative skills. It has been great to partner with 100% Digital Leeds on this programme to ensure that it reaches people across the city. We want to make sure that these workshops are open to everyone and the overwhelming feedback is that we should run more.”
Adam Sas-Skowronski, Creative Technologist, LEEDS 2023
The success of this initial series has led to the workshops being extended into 2023, when four of the workshops trialled will be delivered in various venues across the city. The workshops will include image editing, audio editing, video editing and live streaming, and each will be repeated in community venues across the city. More information coming in January!
Who attended the workshops
100% Digital Leeds worked with LEEDS 2023 to deliver a series of seven workshops across 2022, covering a range of content including video game design, social media strategy, and interactive storytelling, with the most popular sessions being image editing, audio editing, and video editing.
We had a great time at the Davinci Resolve workshop last night. As professional creatives, we have access to Adobe Creative Cloud, but a lot of the people we work with don't, so it's fantastic to find out more about free, open source software to share with our communities! https://t.co/vWBYitTWf9pic.twitter.com/NQsVJZ71iX
— The Highrise Project CIC (@leedshighrise) May 26, 2022
Tweet from a workshop attendee
Across the seven workshops 130 people booked spaces and the workshops saw a 70% attendance rate on the day. The in-person events in the city centre attracted people from across Leeds.
Attendance has been cross-sector with around half to two thirds of attendees representing community or third sector, around a third of attendees came from the creative industries, and a small percentage attended from the public and education sectors or people attending out of personal interest.
How the workshops made an impact
Reasons for attending the workshops included developing skills to be later shared with communities, creating engaging community learning resources, recording community history and creating digital archives, content creation, and capturing and sharing organisational impact.
Comments from attendees demonstrate that the workshops have been successful in breaking down perceptions and supporting access:
“I have broken the fear of trying a new software so thank you. I am left with plenty of materials to practice on at home and cannot wait for the next workshop.”
“I liked how accessible it felt, I am completely new to using Audacity and sound and this felt really user friendly.”
“I was nervous that the session would be full of people that work in creative technology but such an interesting mix of people, professions, ages, and reasons for attending.”
Feedback from workshop attendees
On a scale of 1 to 5, 98% of responders said the workshops rated as a 4 or 5 in terms of being both engaging and user friendly. Attendees also rated as a 4 or 5 the likelihood of them recommending the workshop series to a friend or attending another workshop themselves.
Aishwarya Vijayakumar has used her new digital skills to create the branding and social media promotion for her small business, Totes and More.
“I attended almost all the Leeds 2023 workshops in this series, and I’ve been able to put most of these into practice. The image editing workshop in particular has helped me build the social media for my business. I’ve always wanted an aesthetic feed and all the previous softwares I’ve used provide similar looking graphics. The GoDaddy Studio workshop really helped me step up my business socials and I’ve been told by everyone I meet that they find my social media posts and graphics very well presented.”
Last week saw the launch of the new 100% Digital Leeds model for a community-based approach to digital inclusion. The model sets out the stages and steps that can be followed by council officers who wish to adapt and apply the approach in their locality to develop and implement their own digital inclusion interventions. The webinar was viewed by over 100 people from across the UK, many of whom lead digital inclusion for their local authority.
The model for a community-based approach to digital inclusion is now available to download on the Digital Inclusion Toolkit.
Launch webinar recording.
A community-based approach to digital inclusion
The 100% Digital Leeds community-based approach to digital inclusion brings together key partners to design digital inclusion interventions based on the needs of a particular community. A community could be a geographic area, such as a ward or a town, or a community of interest, such as unpaid carers, older people, or people with learning disabilities. The approach uses and builds upon existing strengths and assets to create an intervention that is bespoke, sustainable, and able to scale and flex in response to changing needs. The resulting interventions are embedded within the existing support mechanisms around that community, strengthening the place to empower the person.
For the first time, this model sets out the 100% Digital Leeds community-based approach to digital inclusion as a series of stages and steps so that all councils can adopt, adapt, and apply the principles in their area.
“This is a clear and practical model which we have been able to adapt from a city to an extensive rural setting successfully. Whilst this model covers every aspect of implementing and enabling the community-based approach, you can also use it as a ‘pick and mix’ to just use the elements you need – it’s very flexible.”
Debbie Fagan, Digital Inclusion (Health) Officer for East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Sharing learning and expertise
100% Digital Leeds is one of the most successful digital inclusion programmes in the country. The programme was initiated by a Leeds City Council Scrutiny Board inquiry in 2015 and the council continues to invest in a permanent team, part of the Integrated Digital Service (IDS) at Leeds City Council and Leeds Health and Care Partnership NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board. The team works with over 200 organisations, teams, settings, and services, and has brought over £2million into the city, increasing the capacity of third sector organisations and building the digital inclusion ecosystem across Leeds.
“We must work together across all organisations and sectors to ensure digital is about more than just deploying new technology. We must ensure that everyone is included, engaged, motivated, skilled, confident, equipped and involved in our collective digital journey. I’m immensely proud of the outcomes that the 100% Digital Leeds team is generating for our city.”
Leonardo Tantari, chief digital and information officer for Leeds City Council and the NHS (Leeds) West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board
A Local Government Association Digital Pathfinder Project
The 100% Digital Leeds team was funded to write and publish the model as part of the Local Government Association (LGA) Digital Pathfinders Programme, designed to support councils seeking to innovate and develop pioneering initiatives to advance digital inclusion, digital connectivity, and cyber security.
“In recent years this model has developed into an example of best practice in the sector, strengthening the outcome of digital inclusion initiatives for residents, partners and communities in Leeds and beyond. Hence, why we funded Leeds City Council to utilise their expertise to scale a model to other councils that enables them to replicate and build a community of support that is integral for residents to benefit from being online.”
Tom Denman, Productivity Adviser – Digital Innovation, Security and Behavioural Insights, Local Government Association
The model for a community-based approach to digital inclusion is now available to download on the Digital Inclusion Toolkit.
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.
