Free support to get people online across the East Midlands has been welcomed by the region’s mayor.
Thousands of pounds have been awarded to schemes across the East Midlands designed to help people access the internet, so they can book a doctor’s appointment on the NHS app, shop around for better deals on things such as insurance and food, or stay in touch with loved ones.
The Government’s new £11.7 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund will support projects helping people at risk of being left behind get the access, skills and confidence they need to get online – including schemes run by Bassetlaw Community and Voluntary Service (CVS) and Nottinghamshire County and Gedling Borough councils.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “This investment is fantastic news for the East Midlands. Access to online services is no longer a luxury – it’s essential for education, business, and everyday life.
“Supporting the development of digital skills and employment is a cornerstone of my inclusive East Midlands Growth Plan and inclusive growth means creating opportunities for all as we build a prosperous, sustainable future.
“By supporting those digitally disadvantaged, we’re making sure our communities can thrive in a modern economy and no one is left behind.”
Bassetlaw CVS has been awarded £120,000 for Tackling Technology Together.
The community-led programme which will support more than 500 people from marginalised groups, including those in deprived areas with a focus on frailty, carers and individuals with mental health needs. It will use local hubs, trained volunteers, and tech packs to help participants build confidence, reduce isolation, access NHS apps and manage their health effectively.
Andria Birch, Bassetlaw CVS chief executive officer, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be leading the Tackling Technology Together partnership project. It is built on years of learning and partnership work with local voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations and our NHS and wider public sector colleagues and will enable us to deliver local solutions to local problems for those in greatest need.”
Gedling Borough Council has been awarded £36,100 for Outside In: The wise kids and the whizz kids.
The project will bring together a diverse group of younger and older people to co-design and pilot a plan to tackle barriers to digital services for groups at risk of digital exclusion. The aim is to derive new insights and try interventions co-designed with members of the community.
Nottinghamshire County Council has been awarded £91,748 for its Digital Inclusion Spatial Equity Analysis Mapping Project.
The project maps digital exclusion in Nottinghamshire, enabling stakeholders to “target interventions effectively, embed equity, and deliver scalable, future‑proof strategies that build inclusive, connected communities”.
Meanwhile the Coalfields Regeneration Trust is to receive £75,710 towards the Coalfields Game Academy. The project will help young people aged 15-19 and living in some of the country’s most disadvantaged coalfield neighbourhoods, by using video gaming as a tool to improve digital inclusion, build confidence, and enhance employability.
The Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund is part of government’s drive to ensuring everyone has the digital skills needed to use technology to make life better.
Research suggests there are currently 8 million adults in the UK who lack basic digital skills and 1.6m who live offline altogether. This prevents them from accessing convenient digital government services online, managing their finances on their phone, or searching for job opportunities.
Digital inclusion minister Liz Lloyd unveiled a total of 80 schemes nationally to receive money from the fund. The success of these projects will help inform future initiatives to help get more people online and open doors for them to make the most of the opportunities technology can bring – boosting employment, improving health and making life more convenient.
Ms 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.”
The fund is being directed at community organisations as the best placed to determine how to support the needs of their communities. Each organisation will report back on their project, with the findings used to work out what works best when it comes to helping people to get online and using this to shape digital inclusion initiatives across the country in the future.
Published on: 5 January 2026
Categories: News, Skills and Employment