At the Keeping Digital Foundation, we've not been shy about sharing our views of the Digital Exclusion review led by the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee, calling out the Government's failings for digital inclusion across York and the UK. In a world that is becoming even more digital, it simply isn't good enough. 

 

Uswitch mobiles have analysed the number of National Databanks, Digital Inclusion Hubs, and Digital skill workshops on offer around the UK, compared against the average employment rate, and GINI coefficient in each of the locations, to determine where digital inclusion and exclusion is most prevalent. 

 

With the Good Things Foundation aiming to help over 200,000 people by the end of 2023, Uswitch research reveals that the UK currently has a total of 2,712 databanks, digital inclusion hubs and digital skills workshops, with 361 of these being databanks. 

 

The Keeping Digital Foundation run five Digital Cafes (digital inclusion hubs) across the city of York, with two of them providing digital skills workshops and all five of them providing Databank services. 

Combining a poverty index score of 59.2 and an average of 11.2 Digital Inclusion Hubs per and 5.6 databanks 100,000 people, Manchester takes the lead as the most digitally inclusive location in the UK. 

 

Whilst London had the most databanks overall, with 38, when taking into account the capital’s population of over 8.7 million, London only have 0.4 databanks per 100,000 people. 

 

Coventry sits just behind Manchester with an average of 10.7 Digital Inclusion Hubs per 100,000 people. The city has a higher employment rate and number of people accessing the internet in the past three months. However, the city has less than half of Manchester’s databanks per 100,000 (2.6), exemplifying room for improvement. 

 

 

Liverpool, Hull and Leicester all have just under five Digital Inclusion Hubs and on average one databank per 100,000. With a poverty index score at the upper third of the rankings, the cities are putting in resources to accommodate those in data poverty. However, more could be done to bring them to compete with the likes of Manchester and Coventry. 

 

Luke Castle, Community Coordinator at the Keeping Digital Foundation, praised the findings of this report: "With banks shutting and many of our services now being online first, it's left many residents who cannot use technology behind. We're all about providing a choice when it comes to getting online, and we're proud to see our progress recognised. 

 

"With five Digital Cafes having opened across the city of York in the past year, all of which providing the Databank support service, we've made it even easier for York residents to get free support when it comes to getting online. No resident should be left behind, so whether a resident wants support in learning how to use an email, to more challenging topics like paying bills online, our volunteers are available to help at a Digital Cafe near them. Our Databank service then allows eligible residents to get support when it comes to their mobile phone bill, providing free data to those who need it most and ensuring they can get online and stay connected. We're also proud members of 100% Digital York, a partnership of organisations which aims to give residents in York the choice and opportunity to get online and know where to access help when they need it. 

 

"This report from Uswitch highlights the amazing work happening in York to support our local residents, and also highlights the dedication from our volunteers as we've grown this amazing network." 

 

Uswitch’s mobile expert, Rehan Ali comments "This research highlights the urgent need to address digital poverty and ensure that mobile data is readily available for everyone to access basic government, council and financial systems – regardless of their social class, unemployment status and personal arrangements."