Digital Inclusion 2024: Creating Accessible and Inclusive Digital Services

An estimated 10.2 million people lack the core skills and foundations for digital life, according to a 2022 Lloyds Bank study into digital inclusion. This digital exclusion has profound consequences on a person’s health outcomes, degree of social isolation, ability to secure employment and use key financial tools. With the widespread digital transformation of services driven by lockdown measures; vulnerable groups now face an even greater risk of losing access to vital resources. Although public and voluntary sector practitioners have made significant progress through improving access to devices and digital skills, their efforts must not stop there. To truly overcome barriers to digital inclusion, it is crucial for them to continue embracing partnership working and actively share best practice, ensuring no one is left behind in the digital age.

• 7 million households remain without internet access, as reported by Ofcom in 2022
• 37% of people report needing help from family or friends to go online (Good Things Foundation, 2023)
• It is estimated that 5 million workers will be acutely under-skilled in basic digital skills by 2030 (The Industrial Strategy Council, 2021)
• Nearly 70% of digital inclusion initiatives involve third and public sector organisations, according to The London Office of Technology and Innovation (2022)

Join us at Digital Inclusion 2024: Creating Accessible and Inclusive Digital Services to hear the latest insight into improving digital access and tackling exclusion. High-level keynotes will provide national guidance for delivering digital inclusion programmes, followed by case studies demonstrating best practice in offering support. Key topics include developing a digital inclusion strategy, multi-agency working to provide wrap-around interventions, and supporting a diverse range of digitally excluded groups. A breakout networking session offers the opportunity to share your experiences whilst networking with other senior colleagues across local government, housing, and the voluntary sector.

Why Attend:

✓High-level keynotes from leading bodies in digital inclusion

✓Best practice case studies in supporting digital inclusion for older adults, disabled people, and financially vulnerable groups

✓Networking with senior colleagues from local authorities, housing, and the voluntary sector

✓8 CPD points towards your yearly quota

NEW AND EXCLUSIVE TO YOUR
CONFERENCE PACKAGE – GE Insights:

This year’s conference package includes 12-months FREE access to GE Insights, our cross-sector learning resource of case study focused videos, articles, lived experiences and more (RRP £199). Gain unlimited access to our online platform when you purchase your conference ticket.

Key benefits include:

 ✓100s of Exclusive Case Studies – fingertip access to videos and articles covering all key sectors and ALL CPD certified

 ✓Key Sessions from All Our Conferences – gain valuable insights from our past, present, and future events (160+ pa)

 ✓Articles and Interviews – learn from our network of expert speakers and contributors explore further the key discussions from the conferences

 ✓Additional CPD Hours – automatically earn more for everything you watch, read, and hear

 ✓Your Own CPD Dashboard – charts your progress, allows you to add notes, download your activities, and save/print an official CPD certificate

 ✓Personalised Homepage – only see the relevant content you need to save time

 ✓30+ New Uploads Each Month – we’re adding new content every week to ensure you stay engaged and informed all year round.

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

• 09.00

  Online Registration

• 09.50

  Chair’s Welcome Address

  Simeon Yates, Professor of Digital Culture from the Department of Communication and Media, University of Liverpool (CONFIRMED)

• 10.00

  Keynote: APPG Update: Tackling Digital Poverty and Achieving Inclusion

  Matt Warman, MP for Boston and Skegness, Chair, APPG on Digital Poverty (CONFIRMED)

• 10.20

  Keynote: Transforming Local Services to Become Digitally Inclusive: Lessons from Lockdown

  • Key tips for identifying and addressing the barriers to accessing local services digitally
  • Training and resources to upskill staff and foster a whole-organisation approach to delivering digital inclusion
  • Insights into digital champions: working with service users to educate them on essential digital skills
  • Ideas for embedding safeguards into new digital services to protect staff and service users from possible online harms
  • Monitoring and evaluation tools to measure the impact of initiatives ensure service longevity

  Helen Dobson, Managing Director, Citizen’s Online (CONFIRMED)

• 10.40

  Questions and Answers

• 11.00

  Comfort Break

• 11.15

  Case Study: Developing a Robust, City-Wide Digital Inclusion Strategy

  • Key considerations for working with local partners to design a digital inclusion ‘ecosystem’ that centres around the needs of the city
  • Strategies for improving outreach and embedding support within the local community through working with voluntary sector partners
  • Top tips for information sharing between organisations to identify groups most in need of support
  • Co-designing interventions with delivery organisations to ensure support meets the needs of their service users
  • Best practice in ensuring shared accountability between partners for achieving progress

  Amy Hearn, Digital Inclusion Manager,100% Digital Leeds, Integrated Digital Service, Leeds City Council (CONFIRMED)

• 11.35

  Case Study: Equipping Elderly Residents with Digital Skills to Lead an Independent Digital Later-Life

  • Sharing successful digital inclusion projects and practices to overcome resistance to online services among older adults
  • Providing digital skills training to combat adult loneliness and teach elderly residents how to connect with friends and family
  • Developing volunteering opportunities to empower older people to encourage and teach digital skills to peers in their community
  • Working with older adults and family members to co-design action plans for accessing online health and financial services

  Hayley Hughes, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Citizen’s Advice Manchester (CONFIRMED)

• 11.55

  Question and Answers 

• 12.15

  Lunch Break

• 12.55

  Keynote: Overcoming the Digital Divide: Supporting Socially Disadvantaged People to Get Online

  • Working in partnership to share information and resources in a digital inclusion network
  • Tips for libraries and community-based organisations to implement a local digital inclusion hub
  • Sharing recommendations for engaging under-served communities to engage with digital inclusion initiatives
  • Utilising donation and distribution networks to improve access for those in need of devices and/or data connectivity

  Dr Emma Stone, Director of Evidence and Engagement, Good Things Foundation (CONFIRMED)

• 13.15

  Case Study: Tackling Digital Poverty and Securing Online Access for Low-Income Households

  • Strategic guidance for developing a digital inclusion programme inclusive of those with multiple disadvantages
  • Methods for raising awareness of free digital programmes among residents and providing targeted support to encourage uptake
  • Tips for building effective partnerships with local organisations and enterprises to improve outreach to households most in need
  • Providing holistic community support through joined-up working with food banks to deliver digital advice

  Laura Waller, Digital Services and Inclusion Lead, Coventry City Council (CONFIRMED)

• 13.35

  Case Study: Embedding Accessibility into Digital Products and Services

  • Tips for applying a maturity model approach to evaluate digital accessibility and drive improvements in product design and processes
  • Sharing resources and toolkits to improve practitioner knowledge, support disabled service users and network with partner organisations
  • Sharing examples of best practice in levelling up towards  digital maturity

  Robin Christopherson MBE, Head of Digital Inclusion, AbilityNet (CONFIRMED)

• 13.55

  Questions and Answers

• 14.15

  Breakout Networking: Sharing Solutions to Remove Barriers and Combat Digital Exclusion

  This session will provide you with the opportunity to discuss the main challenges you face in improving local digital access and inclusion. Share the experiences and solutions that have worked well in your organisation whilst networking with colleagues from across the sector.

• 14.45

  Comfort Break

• 15.00

  Case Study: Developing Collaborative Partnerships to Improve Residents’ Digital Skills

  • Sharing successful local initiatives and interventions to boost customer confidence in getting online and accessing services
  • Establishing partnerships with local charities to deliver training and share learning resources with residents
  • The digital skills assessment tool: helping tenants identify and overcome skills gaps with bespoke training and support
  • Providing vulnerable tenants with broadband and devices to remove barriers to getting online

  Kenne Amissah, Digital Support & Skills Manager, Clarion Housing Group (CONFIRMED)

• 15.20

  Case Study: Working in Collaboration to Engage Tenants in Digital Inclusion Initiatives

  • Digital Inclusion Taskforce: mobilising national and local organisations from various sectors to bridge the digital divide and improve inclusivity for all residents
  • Developing relationships with internet service providers (ISPs) to help tenants gain access to broadband and data
  • Lessons learned from cross-sector digital inclusion interventions and identifying opportunities to improve engagement
  • Brilliant Basics: The essential ingredients to raising your organisation’s digital inclusion capabilities

  Nick Horne, Group Chief Executive, Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, Digital Inclusion Lead, Greater Manchester Housing Providers (CONFIRMED)

• 15.40

  Question and Answers

• 16.00

  Chair’s Closing Remarks

  *programme subject to change without notice

  

   

Who Should Attend?

Delegates who will have an interest in this event will be people who work in housing, local authorities, and the voluntary sector.

*This Conference is open to Public, Private and Third Sectors

For more information or to make a booking please call 0330 058 4285

We are now taking bookings for our wide range of sponsorship and exhibition packages; we also offer bespoke packages tailored for your organisation.

Why Sponsor and Exhibit at this event:

✓ Network with key decision makers across the Public Sector
✓ Meet your target audience in the Sector
✓ Listen and Learn from leading industry experts across the Sector
✓ Opportunity to demonstrate your products or services
✓ Speak alongside industry leading experts
✓ Work with your dedicated account manager to generate the maximum amount of leads

Exhibition and Sponsorship Packages:

Strategic Headline Sponsor:

• 20-minute speaking slot followed by Q&A
• 3x2m Exhibition Space (In the Refreshments and Catering room)
• Pre show marketing email to all registered delegates
• Post show inclusion on presentation email
• Branding on Website and Event Guide (Logo and 100 Word Profile)
• A4 Insert or A4 Chair Drop
• 5 Delegate Conference Passes
• 1 Speaker Pass

Key Supporter Package:

• 20-minute speaking slot followed by Q&A
• Branding on Website and Event Guide (Logo and 100 Word Profile)
• A4 Insert or Chair Drop
• 1 Speaker Pass
• 2 Delegate Conference Passes

Exhibition Stand:

• 3x2m Exhibition Space (In the Refreshments and Catering room)
• Power, Wifi, Table and 2 Chairs (If required)
• Branding on Website and Event Guide (Logo and 100 Word Profile)
• 2 Delegate Conference Passes
• 1 Stand Manager Pass

Insert or Chair Drop:

• 1 Delegate Conference Pass
• A4 insert into delegate pack or A4 Chair Drop

For more information or to discuss your requirements, please contact the team on 0330 0584 285, or sponsorship@governmentevents.co.uk or complete our enquiry form and we will contact you.

• Public Sector Rate incl. GE Insights:: £449.00+VAT
• Voluntary Sector Rate incl. GE Insights:: £379.00+VAT
• Private Sector Rate incl. GE Insights:: £649.00+VAT