Free digital training launches nationwide to help people get online with confidence

Free digital training is being rolled out across the UK to help people at risk of being left behind gain the confidence and skills they need to use the internet safely and independently.

The support will help people stay in touch with loved ones, book GP appointments using the NHS app, and shop around for the best deals online.

What’s happening?

80 local projects have received government funding through the first-of-its-kind £11.7m  Digital Innovation Fund.

These community-led schemes focus on helping those who are most likely to be digitally excluded.

Where is the support available?

Support is available in every region of the UK, targeting groups such as older people, homeless individuals and disadvantaged young people.

Funding has also been allocated to devolved governments to ensure this is a truly UK-wide effort:

• Scotland: £764,020
• Wales: £400,368
• Northern Ireland: £267,249

How will it help?

Projects will offer practical, tailored support, such as:

• helping over 7,000 older people learn to use the NHS app to manage their health
• providing devices and data to people experiencing homelessness
• using e-sports to help disadvantaged young people in the North and Midlands build digital skills and safe online habits

These initiatives aim to boost employment opportunities, improve access to healthcare, save people money and make daily life easier.

Why this matters

• Research from Lloyds shows 8 million adults in the UK lack basic digital skills, with 1.6m offline entirely.
• The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) reports that 11% of UK households have no home internet access, including 42% of low-income households of working age.
• Digital exclusion can also increase living costs, as people without internet access may pay up to 25% more for essential goods and services.

A national plan to close the digital gap

The government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan aims to tackle these challenges and ensure everyone can benefit from the opportunities that being online provides.

Launching the plan, minister for digital inclusion Liz Lloyd said:

“Being online is something many of us take for granted, but for millions it could mean a new job opportunity, quicker access to healthcare or a lifeline to the local community.

“This fund will both empower community organisations to help those most at risk of being left behind get the skills, access and confidence they need - while also informing how we can help even more people in the future.”