Brent Council were at the beginning of their digital inclusion journey when we started working with them. Funded by Hyperoptic, a fibre broadband provier, we delivered digital exclusion research including community engagement meeting milestones to:
- Research digital exclusion risk
- Produce detailed mapping and gap analysis
- Assess strategic landscape
- Engage with community groups
- Produce a findings and recommendations report
- Run community engagement workshop
- Provide digital champion project support and access to the Digital Champions Network
We produced a report of findings and recommendations that has given the Council a much clearer understanding of what digital exclusion looks like in the Borough. We identified areas and demographic groups within Brent that are most at risk of digital exclusion. Brent has been able to use this to better target digital inclusion initiatives. As well as supporting vulnerable residents to get online, Brent were also keen to support SMEs in the borough with Covid recovery. Many small businesses had relied on footfall and face-to-face transactions before the pandemic. We made recommendations to support businesses to find new online sales opportunities.
The report directly shaped the Borough’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan. We worked with the Council, health and housing partners and the voluntary and community sector in developing priorities and securing commitment to working together to develop and implement the Action Plan. This included running a community engagement workshop with over 84 attendees. The project has also supported Brent to establish a Digital Champion programme. Several pilots are underway with groups of council staff, as well as volunteers from a local voluntary organisation to develop the digital skills of older people.
This work was funded by Hyperoptic you can read the full case study here
Please get in touch to discuss how we can support your organisations to sustainably tackle digital exclusion
