Digital inclusion is an enabler to help people, communities, and services to achieve a wide range of ambitions and outcomes. However, 9% of people in West Yorkshire are offline, and 25% lack Essential Digital Skills, meaning that hundreds of thousands are at a disadvantage when it comes to engaging with services and opportunities in daily life.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority has secured £746,000 in funding to create a digital inclusion programme that will help people and communities across the region. The programme will deliver the priority actions in the West Yorkshire Digital Skills plan.
Digital Inclusion West Yorkshire will build on the success of 100% Digital Leeds. The programme will use our community-based approach to digital inclusion as the template to develop local digital inclusion initiatives in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield.
“I’m delighted that the new Digital Inclusion West Yorkshire programme will be adopting the 100% Digital Leeds approach. Through this work we have the potential to unite communities across West Yorkshire, and drive a more connected region where everybody has the opportunity to benefit from being online, and no-one is left behind.”
Leonardo Tantari, Chief Digital and Information Officer, Leeds City Council and NHS (Leeds) West Yorkshire ICB
Find out more
Digital Inclusion West Yorkshire featured in a webinar discussion as part of the West Yorkshire Innovation Festival, chaired by Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire.
“I’m thrilled to announce the new funding for the West Yorkshire Digital Inclusion programme. This programme will help some of the most excluded people in our communities to get online and be digitally included.
We’re taking the 100% Digital Leeds model – widely recognised as one of the most advanced and most successful digital inclusion programmes in the country – and applying it flexibly to other areas, as works best for them. We’re funding this support right across Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, and Wakefield, with funding for Leeds to share their resources and expertise to accelerate the work across the region.”
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Get involved
We would like to hear from:
- Community organisations and charities who want to know about the support you can receive through Digital Inclusion West Yorkshire.
- Local council officers who want to know how Digital Inclusion West Yorkshire can help you to achieve your policy objectives and outcomes.
- Health and care providers who want to know how Digital Inclusion West Yorkshire can increase engagement, participation and use of digital health and care services.
- Private sector businesses who want to play a more active role in your community by supporting Digital Inclusion West Yorkshire.
- Individuals who are interested in a career in digital inclusion, or are already working in this area and would like to learn more about Digital Inclusion West Yorkshire.
Register your interest in Digital Inclusion West Yorkshire, and we will be in touch. Programme activity is expected to start in April 2024.