Introducing the 5 pillars

Pillar 3: Digital inclusion - closing the gap

Southwark’s technology and digital strategy is committed to leaving no one behind in the digital age. Our focus is aimed at addressing the digital divide, ensuring that all our residents have access to the tools, skills, and technology. We are dedicated to providing equitable access to fast, reliable internet throughout the Borough and empowering our residents with the essential digital skills to navigate the digital landscape.

This will be achieved via the channels below:

• Connectivity

  Southwark Council have committed to ensuring more residents benefit from the digital revolution by providing free and affordable broadband on council estates. Affordability has become a reoccurring issue concerning access to broadband. Citizens Advice found that 1 in 6 broadband customers struggled to pay their bill between March 2020 and January 2021. Affordable broadband is essential to ensuring Southwark residents can access council services, employment opportunities, education, and living connected lives.

  What we will deliver:

  • collaborating with internet service providers to introduce affordable and discounted internet plans for low-income residents, ensuring widespread access to fast and reliable internet
  • continue to establish public Wi-Fi hotspots in community spaces, parks, and public buildings, offering free internet access to residents without reliable connectivity at home
  • provision of a full-fibre connectivity grant to support community centres with poor connectivity
  • support 500 residents with free connectivity
  • continue to support residents with the broadband router lending scheme available at libraries
• Devices

  Digital poverty plays a key part of digital exclusion as many residents are unable to afford devices that allow them to connect to the internet. Providing access to smart phones, tablets, laptops, or computers is an essential part of achieving the goals of the strategy overall. An Ofcom survey from Jan–March 2020 found that 9% of households containing children did not have home access to a laptop, desktop PC or tablet.

  What we will deliver:

  • Implementing device lending programs that provide residents with access to smartphones, tablets, or laptops to bridge the digital divide and ensure equal opportunities for participation
  • providing 80 TRAs with laptops and bespoke digital inclusion support
  • continuously update and circulate relevant donation schemes available to Southwark residents
  • supporting the London National Databank to repurpose our disused devices and distribute to residents in need
• Digital Skills

  As part of our digital journey, it is important to provide support for those that are not able to use the internet. The Lloyds 2021 Essential Digital Skills Report estimates that one- fifth of the UK population lacks essential digital skills for life. This includes the ability to connect a device to WiFi, and open an internet browser, to access websites. This aspect focuses on residents in the borough that are digitally excluded, lack basic digital skills and the work we will do to support them.

  The Council’s workforce and digital skills will be crucial in our ability to respond to new challenges and support residents. Developing digital training platforms to upskill employees in the latest technologies and tools relevant to their roles. This will form part of our Well-Run Council pillar.

  A digitally inclusive society relies having the right skills to be able to take forward the necessary work. It is predicted that 75% of jobs will require advanced digital skills by 2030. Current research shows 82% of advertised openings requires some level of digital skills. This channel focuses on the promotion of jobs and training for our residents, helping to ensure nobody is left behind.

  What we will deliver:

  • establishing community centres or hubs equipped with digital training facilities to enhance technological literacy among residents
  • implementing programmes to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that all residents have access to and benefit from digital technologies
  • establishing digital mentorship programs where tech-savvy community members or volunteers assist others in developing digital skills through one-on-one or group sessions
  • conducting awareness campaigns to promote the importance of digital inclusion, dispelling myths, and encouraging residents to actively participate in digital initiatives – this includes attendance at the Cost-of-Living roadshow events and other community focused events across the borough
  • working with technology partner, Infosys to launch a new digital inclusion platform for residents and SMEs to improve their digital skills by Q4 24/25
  • updating the Southwark Essential Digital Skills assessment tool to assess local needs and to improve understanding
  • updating the Southwark digital skills provision map with updated support and designing a more user- friendly page which residents can access the right support and partners can refer residents to the provisions that match their need
  • continue to deliver face to face digital inclusion sessions for residents across the borough
  • continue to support our resident digital champions with bespoke workshops and resources to support the upskilling of resident’s digital skills
  • the launch of a new digital inclusion platform for residents and SMEs to improve their digital skills by Q4 24/25
  • developing a drop in at Southwark Resource Centre to develop support for disabled residents and residents with mental health issues
  • developing a drop in with Bells Gardens to offer specific support with council services
  • adhering to WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards to ensure digital content is perceivable, operable, and understandable for all users
  • incorporating features such as alternative text for images and sufficient colour contrast to enhance accessibility
  • ensuring compatibility with assistive technologies such as screen readers, voice recognition software, and magnification tool
  • providing clear instructions and intuitive navigation to facilitate ease of use for individuals with disabilities
• Innovation

  What we will deliver:

  • encouraging innovation by organising hackathons or workshops
  • membership on the London Digital Exclusion Taskforce to support digital inclusion initiatives across London
  • supporting local organisations with funding bids for digital inclusion activities

Page last updated: 08 May 2024