One-to-one support in familiar places can build confidence as well as technical skills.
Digital inclusion should include devices/data, skills, trust and accessible service design. Rural barriers include patchy broadband/mobile coverage, device and data costs, and limited confidence.
Embedding digital support in community settings can reach people who do not respond to centralised or online offers (ICB Digital Inclusion investment in VCSE community grant fund £85k 2026/27)
Transferable lesson: treat digital inclusion as a determinant of health – not an IT project. System response: retain phone and face-to-face routes, fund assisted digital support, and co-design services with excluded residents.
Public Health identifies
Forever Connected and Digital Skills Devon as community-based examples described by residents as highly impactful.
Public Health identifies
Forever Connected and Digital
Skills Devon as community-
based examples described by
residents as highly impactful.
Source: Devon Public Health Annual Report 2022/23: Energy Saving Devon