The Old Fire Station in Gipton is the first community organisation in the city to 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 The Old Fire Station, the new Digital Inclusion Officer will work with a range of partners across the York Road 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.
“The Old Fire Station are excited to be hosting the new role of Digital Inclusion Officer in the York Road LCP area. With this new role we hope to support the community to become more digitally included by providing activities and information to increase knowledge and skills.”
Fran Etherington, Development Manager, The Old Fire Station
Supporting digital inclusion for health participation locally
The post supports the continued development of the York Road LCP Digital Health Hubs, a network of community partners supporting the digital inclusion needs of local communities to improve digital health participation and reduce health inequalities.
The Digital Health Hub network 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.
The city-wide roll out of place-based Digital Health Hub networks
The approach is being rolled-out across the city with a staged implementation plan. The first wave is currently in development with the support of NHS Health Inequalities funding. This will see the launch of a further four Digital Health Hub networks linked to LCPs, plus an additional two Digital Health Hubs supporting a particular Community of Interest.
“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