What is Digital Inclusion?
Although we are living in an increasingly digital world, not everyone has the choice and opportunity to use the internet in their everyday life. People accessing social care support – including older people, people with physical and cognitive disabilities, and those living with long-term mental health conditions – are significantly more likely to be digitally excluded. This digital exclusion supercharges existing inequalities these groups face with serious consequences for social connection, health and wellbeing, and socioeconomic opportunity.
Digital Inclusion is the process of working with people and communities to ensure they can get online in a way that works for them. This can involve supporting someone to understand the personal benefit of getting online, helping them to find a device and connectivity option that is right for them, and assisting them to build the digital skills and confidence they need to meet their needs and achieve their goals online.
Digital Inclusion at Carr Gomm
In February 2021, we launched our Digital Inclusion Development Project (DIDP) to learn more about the digital needs of people we support and our frontline staff to ensure everyone has the choice and opportunity to get online in a safe and meaningful way. During a two-year research phase, Shannon McNee (Digital Inclusion Development Manager) utilised action research methodologies to work alongside frontline services to design and deliver their own bespoke approaches to providing digital inclusion support. A total of 18 services took part in this research, reaching over 100 people we support. Each service approached digital inclusion in their own creative way, including:
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- Upskilling people we support to take their hobbies and interests to the next level, like learning how to DJ
- Supporting people to continue their education and career development online
- Supporting people to host online social events, like sing-alongs and cooking nights
- Designing digitally enhanced support plans to ensure people have an active voice in the support they receive
Throughout this process, we have seen the significant impact that being digitally connected can have on the lives of people we support through increased opportunities for connection, choice, and control.
Now, DIDP is focused on rolling out digital inclusion across our community by focusing on four key pillars:
- Supporting Staff Digital Skills & Confidence
- Digital as a Tool
- Access to Devices and Connectivity
- Co-designing Safe, Impactful Online Spaces
Our Pillars
Supporting Staff Digital Skills & Confidence
Digital as a Tool
Access to Devices and Connectivity
Co-designing Safe, Impactful Online Spaces
Digital access is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’ or luxury utility.
Digital inclusion is a fundamental human right.
Two weeks ago, it was my very first time getting in touch to speak to my psychologist online […] I thought, ‘I’ve been shown how to do this about ten times, I should know how to do it’…and I done it. I felt brilliant. I got onto the call, I was like ‘YES! I done it!’ […] It was a BIG achievement for me. It will give me a wee bit of control over my own life. That’s what it’s all about, control. You can do stuff for yourself, stuff you don’t need other people to do, if you can help it.
“The four people we support now have their own email addresses. It brings me out in shivers. That’s something we take for granted in this day and age. One of the ladies we support, I used to email her mum every Monday but now whoever is supporting her can do that alongside her. Her mum will send pictures of the dog or her nieces and nephews – it’s amazing!”
Digital Inclusion Support Stories
Highlights from across our community, showing digital inclusion in action.
View this post on Instagram
Learn more about our ongoing digital inclusion journey on our blog.
Bridge or Barrier? | What Digital Inclusion Really Means for Social Care
Our Bridge or Barrier? report explores how digital health and care are experienced by people accessing social care and the staff who support them.
Carr Gomm enhances digital skills for Support Practitioners
Carr Gomm is boosting Support Practitioners’ digital skills through a new Digital Skills & Inclusion Hub.
Carr Gomm is VR Learning Grant recipient
Carr Gomm has been chosen to participate in the 2024 Care Reality Health and Social Care Virtual Reality Learning Grant.