Related strategies

The Technology and Digital Strategy outlines opportunities for cross-sector collaboration. We need to make the most of our relationships with partners, both within and outside the council.

This will ensure we are not working in isolation, and we are all working towards the same objectives.

External partners

UK Digital Strategy

The UK Digital Strategy aims to create a digital economy which is resilient to change and fit for the future. Comprising of seven pillars, it focuses on building a world-leading digital economy that works for everyone, including:

• ensuring that we continue to tackle the root causes of digital exclusion, so that everyone can increase their digital capability to make the most of the digital world
• developing the full range of digital skills that individuals and companies across the country need in an increasingly digital economy
• strong collaboration between the public, private, and third sector to tackle the digital skills gap in a co-ordinated and coherent way

GLA Digital Access Mission

The GLA has an ambition for Every Londoner to have access to good connectivity, basic digital skills and the device or support they need to be online by 2025.

To facilitate this, the GLA are working in partnership with the London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI) on the Digital Inclusion Innovation Programme. This is a £1.36million programme to tackle digital exclusion.

Internal

Digital Skills Delivery Plan

The Local Economy Team are leading on the Digital Skills action plan and leading the ‘Southwark Essential Digital Skills Group’. This is an informal partnership of local organisations that have an interest in working together to improve outcomes for Southwark residents who lack essential digital skills. The group has three objectives.

Objective 1: A shared understanding of need and demand for essential digital skills in Southwark

Objective 2: Collectively deliver sufficient, accessible provision that responds to learner needs.

Objective 3: A collaborative approach to innovation.

Climate Change Strategy & Action Plan

The climate emergency affects us all, and the Southwark Council action plan outlines how we will contribute to ending global warming, while delivering new green jobs. We recognise that digital can be an enabler for reducing our carbon footprint and waste. For example, the reduction of travel and the use of printed documents as we move to hybrid working.

Under the ‘Reduce unnecessary journeys’ theme, staff will be asked to work at appropriate locations prior to, after or between meeting residents, rather than travelling to an office if it is not necessary.

It will use the Digital Infrastructure Strategy to facilitate the provision of widespread Wi-Fi and high-speed internet to less well-connected areas across the borough to enable remote working.

As part of the digital inclusion report and action plan, we are also committed to recycling and redistributing disused devices to reduce waste in the borough. We will work closely with LOTI to deliver this.

Southwark Stands Together

Southwark Stands Together (SST) is a borough wide initiative. It is a response to the injustice and racism experienced by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, and to the inequalities exposed by COVID-19.

Two of the group's themes focus on education and communities. It is vital that when we reach out to these communities, we are not excluding those that may not be online.

Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2022-2027

As a borough we are committed to providing additional support to residents that have the poorest outcomes. We are focusing our efforts on our most disadvantaged neighbourhoods and communities. Our call to action for the borough and partners is to unite to tackle inequalities wherever they may be.

Our five priorities outline how we want to build on the progress we have made as a partnership and address the challenges that our residents continue to face.

Drive 1: A whole-family approach to giving children the best start in life.

Drive 2: Healthy employment and good health for working age adults across the health and wellbeing economy.

Drive 3: Early identification and support to stay well.

Drive 4: Strong and connected communities.

Drive 5: Integration of Health and Social Care.