The Digital Brighton & Hove project is a cross-sector partnership which brings together over 300 organisations tackling digital exclusion across the city. Started in 2015 as a stand-alone piece of research on digital exclusion, this successful local partnership is now in its fourth phase of funding and delivery.
The next phase of the project has been developed as part of the city’s Covid19 Recovery Programme, supporting vulnerable people through digital inclusion activity.
Living during lockdown has demonstrated to everyone how important digital skills and technologies are to make our lives easier. But there are 9 million adults in the UK who can’t use the internet, with a significant number in Brighton and Hove.
Digital Brighton & Hove will continue to focus on coordinating and delivering the provision of digital skills support to vulnerable people who lack the skills and confidence to use digital, as well as helping local organisations source and distribute digital technology and connectivity to those without it.
David Scurr, the former Partnership and Project Manager, left Citizens Online to join one of our esteemed collaborators CAST, in the summer. This was an opportune moment to regroup, consolidate on the learning David’s work brought to bear, and re-engage and re-ignite the groups in and around Brighton and Hove.
There are three new team members working within the Digital Brighton & Hove project who are bringing their experience to the fore for Citizens Online.
Bryan Rossi-Anderson: Partnership & Project Manager
Katie Knight: Project Coordinator
Anna Dolphin: Digital Champion
Find out a bit about the teams’ background and motivations, in their own words, below.
Bryan Rossi-Anderson: Partnership & Project Manager
What brings you to Citizens Online?
I have always lauded the work that Citizens Online does. I was fortunate enough to work alongside them, albeit in another organisation, on the National Lottery funded One Digital Programme over the last three years. They have a unique relationship with their community, which I hope to enhance and continue to engage in.
What are you motivated about doing in your role?
I excel at building, developing and enhancing relationships with organisations that are working together for mutual community benefit. There are so many relationships that Digital Brighton & Hove has procured and Covid19 has left bereft, that I really want to tap into to reassure the community that we are still here and still supporting our community. If this is you, I look forward to speaking to you very soon! Let’s get that plan off the ground, email me bryan.rossi-anderson@citizensonline.org.uk.
What are you looking forward to?
There are so many people to meet and relationships to build and I am so looking forward to getting stuck in. I’ve already hosted our first Network Meeting of the quarter and am excitedly anticipating the next one in November. I have a lot of big ideas; don’t be surprised if I come knocking looking for a collaboration ?.
Katie Knight: Project Coordinator
What brings you to Citizens Online?
I have been really inspired by the fantastic partnership work Citizens Online have been doing during the Covid19 pandemic, working in a creative and flexible way with local communities and organisations to address digital exclusion during some really challenging times!
What are you motivated about doing in your role?
Exclusion to digital services is an increasing and serious issue in our society, a need which has been sadly highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic. People without digital access are fast becoming a forgotten underclass. Unable to access basic services, and excluded from things that many people take for granted, such as support with housing, food shopping and claiming benefits. I am passionate about addressing inequality and motivated by the opportunity to improve digital access in my community.
What are you looking forward to? I am looking forward to working closely with our committed team of Digital Champion volunteers who support people to learn new skills and access essential services. If you would like to know more about becoming a Digital Champions contact me katie.knight@citizensonline.org – all abilities are welcome and we offer support and training.
Anna Dolphin: Community Digital Champion
What brings you to Citizens Online?
I have been working with charities and community groups in education, health and social care to increase opportunities for communication, connection, and self-expression for people with complex health needs. I am passionate about the capacity of technology to empower people and enable greater agency in people’s lives, and believe that having access to support to help develop skills and increase confidence to access the digital world can have a positive impact on quality of life in these challenging times.
What are you motivated about doing in your role?
Since joining the team, there is clearly a positive impact for people through the work Citizens Online is doing. I am very excited about my role as Community Digital Champion, supporting people to build confidence through their unique digital journeys to connect with other people, access vital services, and engage in individual interests.
What are you looking forward to?
I always look forward to communicating with learners and arranging safe and socially distanced delivery of the tablet devices. I am looking forward to helping more people to build confidence through their digital journeys to connect, communicate, explore and discover.
This new team have all come on board to operate as part of the city’s Covid19 Recovery Programme, supporting vulnerable people through digital inclusion activity. We are all excited to get stuck in and help the people of Brighton & Hove and beyond. Sign up to our mailing list here to keep up to date with our network meetings, opportunities and digital happenings in the city and beyond.
