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.
“Without internet access, good quality devices and digital skills, many communities face long-term disadvantages including unemployment, poor education outcomes, and reduced mental and physical health.”
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.
“ 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.”
Why is this work important?
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected minority and excluded groups. Digital exclusion is a significant barrier for at-risk groups: without internet access, good quality devices and digital skills, many communities face long-term disadvantages including unemployment, poor education outcomes, and reduced mental and physical health.
The work we’re doing as part of the Community Champions project will support communities by providing access to the internet and developing the confidence and capability of at-risk groups so they can use the internet safely and securely. We’re using participatory methods to develop pilot interventions with the community and are conducting user research to ensure that all projects are people-centred and deliver lasting value to the community.