Greenwich Community Champions
Tackling digital exclusion
Greenwich Community Champions is a partnership between the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the NHS, dedicated to creating a community of local volunteers to help share key information and advice about coronavirus to vulnerable and at risk groups. In 2021 the project was awarded funding by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to expand the programme to develop projects to help reach the digitally excluded.
“Digital exclusion is a major barrier for many disadvantaged communities which has been linked to low health and wellbeing, limited education outcomes, low skills and increased unemployment.”
The role of DG Cities
DG Cities has partnered with the Community Champions project to develop several pilot interventions to improve digital inclusion. Projects are being designed in collaboration with the community to be utilised throughout the pandemic and to generate long-term positive impact on the lives of residents.
To do this DG Cities is conducting in-depth qualitative interviews and focus groups with local communities to explore the barriers to digital inclusion faced by those at high-risk from coronavirus. DG cities is looking at three areas of digital inclusion: digital connectivity (access to good quality internet connections), digital devices (access to good quality devices) and digital skills.
As the project progresses throughout 2021 we will publish recommendation reports and an evaluation of the interventions that we develop to show their impact.
Why is this work important?
Digital exclusion is a major barrier for many disadvantaged communities which has been linked to low health and wellbeing, limited education outcomes, low skills and increased unemployment. Black and minority ethnic people, disabled people, and older people are more likely to be digitally excluded and are more vulnerable to coronavirus as a result, as information and services are increasingly available online.
This work will help residents in the borough to improve their digital skills and confidence, learn how to use digital devices, and access faster and better quality internet connections. It will also mean that Community Champions can work closer with shielding and high-risk groups throughout the pandemic and support them to access the help they need.
This project will also capture valuable insights and evidence for local authorities tackling digital exclusion by developing robust evaluations of community based interventions and engaging with local communities.
“This work will help residents in the borough to improve their digital skills and confidence, learn how to use digital devices, and access faster and better quality internet connections.”