Free support to help people get online is rolling out across communities in every region of the UK, enabling them to book NHS appointments, manage finances, shop for better deals, and stay connected with loved ones.
Today, Minister for Digital Inclusion Liz Lloyd announced 80 local schemes backed by the first-of-its-kind £11.7 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund. From Leeds to London, Bristol to Nottingham, these projects will help people at risk of digital exclusion gain the skills, access, and confidence they need to improve living standards and seize opportunities.
Research shows that 8 million adults in the UK lack basic digital skills, whilst 1.6 million people live completely offline. Alongside this, offline households pay 25% more for essentials like insurance and food.
The new schemes will tackle these challenges head-on. Examples include:
- Age UK helping 7,000 older people learn to use the NHS app for health management
- Sheffield United Community Foundation using e-sports gaming to teach digital skills and online safety to 400 disadvantaged young people
- Bromley by Bow Centre providing devices and training for practical tasks like paying bills online
- University of Bristol’s Future IDEAS project co-creating a digital skills chatbot with community input
Funding has also been allocated to the devolved governments, with Scotland receiving £764,020, Wales receiving £400,368, and Northern Ireland receiving £267,249.
The fund is part of the government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan, ensuring everyone has the digital skills to access jobs, manage health, and participate fully in modern life. It complements wider initiatives, including:
- 7.5 million UK workers to gain essential AI skills by 2030
- Launch of the £187m TechFirst programme in 2026 to equip 1 million school students with future-ready tech skills
Liz Lloyd, Minister for Digital Inclusion, said:
“This government is tearing down the barriers to success and making the future work for all, not just the fortunate.
“Being online is something many of us take for granted, but for millions it could mean a new job opportunity, quicker access to healthcare or a lifeline to the local community.
“This fund will both empower community organisations to help those most at risk of being left behind get the skills, access and confidence they need - while also informing how we can help even more people in the future.”
Image credit: iStock
