Get Online Greater Manchester: digital inclusion
Description: Get Online Greater Manchester: digital inclusion pilot for social housing residents John Steward, Head of Digital Infrastructure, Greater Manchester Combined Authority FixTheDigitalDivide 1 GMCA Social Housing Pilot Local Government and
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slide1. Get Online Greater Manchester: digital inclusion pilot for social housing residents John Steward, Head of Digital Infrastructure,
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
#FixTheDigitalDivide 1<br>
slide2. GMCA Social Housing Pilot Local Government and Review of findings so far Simeon Yates, University of Liverpool<br>
slide3. Topics to cover today Initial insights from Local Government perspectives
Data from interviews with GMCA Local Government
Some data from interviews with Welsh Local Government
Examples from other areas
Review of findings from work so far
Concluded work with Social Housing providers
Ongoing survey and focus group work
Relevant insights from other projects<br>
slide4. Local Government<br>
slide5. Local government Roles and resourcing
Not all Local Government Authorities have a dedicated Digital Inclusion lead
Some have digital strategies and oversight boards (e.g., MCC)
Location of DI leads – or person where DI work is focused – varies between LGAs
Adult education
Often building on prior digital skills interventions across a range of issues
Social housing
Where social housing is in house or local arms length
Resourcing of DI is patchy and cyclical/not constant
Often draws on budget of location where DI lead is based<br>
slide6. Local government Where and how to intervene?
Specific intervention – provision of training, kit, or infrastructure
Focus may relate to where DI is “owned”
Systemic engagement
Across the Local Government – examples we know of:
Leeds – 100% Digital Leeds
Oxford – we believe built into all strategies
Across local delivery infrastructure/ecosystems
Partial in many places
The key question – funding
Different Local Governments are utilizing different budgets to address DI<br>
slide7. Local government Policy and place leavers
Context not same for all Local Governments
Relationship to social housing – in house, arms length, or external
What role private landlords
Infrastructure
Digital and technical infrastructure – what can they influence/use?
Regional partners and 3rd sector eco-systems
Who can they engage with to support delivery – especially of training/support
Other policy priorities
Health and wellbeing
Education
Regeneration<br>
slide8. General Themes and Recap<br>
slide9. Social Housing Providers All providers have already been addressing digital inclusion
Stockport for example had previously offered social tariffs, fitted tower blocks with reduced cost broadband and fitted out a void property within the block to provide training (also seen as helpful in reducing social isolation)
All providers noted the challenge of providing long-term support.
Finance is often fixed term as maybe access offers (data, reduced cost broadband)
Sustainability remains a key issue
More than just digital
Lots of offers by Social Housing Providers either directly offer or are connected to a range of community-based provision.
These include things like skills and employability, activities to address loneliness etc.
There is a recognition that tackling digital inclusion isn’t just about devices or cabling in the walls, its about giving people opportunities to connect with other, access services and support.<br>
slide10. Housing Providers Frontline realities
A real commitment from the Social Housing Providers to address digital inclusion issues
However…
Providers and their staff are key frontline service for their tenants
Many tenants are feeling some of the most profound effects of the cost of living crisis.
Colleagues within the organisations are dealing with these issues alongside digital inclusion:
setting up warm hubs
trying to identify the appropriate benefits/support to alleviate the effects of the cost of living/energy crisis<br>
slide11. Social Tariffs Message still not getting through
Nationally 2/3rd Not aware
Nationally close to 40% who they are targeted at don’t think they are for them
Locally in our data so far 50% who responded are not interested in a social tariff
Majority 80%of those who are offline and could take a social tariff are not interested
Big concerns over practicality and contracts
Sweet spot of about £10 per month and no tie in
But Social Tariffs may be below our nationally identified MDLS for households with families – ok for an individual maybe<br>
slide12. Broadband and mobile From both the MDSL work and interviews with residents so far:
Mobile data is necessary but not sufficient – must have but may not be enough
You can get by on mobile data, and it is really a last “line of defence”
Data on top of broadband is what provides real benefit to citizens
Its Quality access and Mobility
Anecdotal but people who are mobile only often like places “to be / do digital”<br>
slide13. Interventions and skills Experience of interventions being transitory
Experience of support falling off after 6 months / year / end of project
Equipment loaned/given/shared is often older/cheaper with short shelf life
Moving beyond functional skills in support and training is a challenge
It’s the skills for confident safe use that people fall short on<br>
slide14. Links to other projects Minimum Digital Living Standard
From our national project: “A minimum digital standard of living includes, but is more than having accessible internet, adequate equipment, and the skills, knowledge, and support people need. It is about being able to communicate, connect, and engage with opportunities safely and with confidence”
Basket of goods services, support, and skills needed to meet this has been defined for Households with children. Full details to be published in February along with Welsh Government.
Three key areas of need:
Access and basic equipment
Functional skills
Skills for safety and confidence<br>
slide15. Takeaways Local partnership is key
Skills are a bit of Cinderella issues in the programme but becoming key in things like MDLS and other measures
Social housing providers are at the nexus of issues for digital inclusion
But they are for lots of other things too (health, wellbeing, aging, cost-of-living)
They need to have or be supported to have dedicated DI lead role
Landlords in general may need to be supported/required/helped to provide a minimum digital offer to tenants to support their access to services
ISPs can be a core part of delivering solutions but:
Partnerships need to be long term and integrated
Other provider solutions (local networks) may also have a role
National UK debate and action on DI is limited at moment
As with Wales and Scotland there may need to be a clearer demand from regions
But splitting out national and devolved opportunites<br>
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
#FixTheDigitalDivide 1<br>
slide2. GMCA Social Housing Pilot Local Government and Review of findings so far Simeon Yates, University of Liverpool<br>
slide3. Topics to cover today Initial insights from Local Government perspectives
Data from interviews with GMCA Local Government
Some data from interviews with Welsh Local Government
Examples from other areas
Review of findings from work so far
Concluded work with Social Housing providers
Ongoing survey and focus group work
Relevant insights from other projects<br>
slide4. Local Government<br>
slide5. Local government Roles and resourcing
Not all Local Government Authorities have a dedicated Digital Inclusion lead
Some have digital strategies and oversight boards (e.g., MCC)
Location of DI leads – or person where DI work is focused – varies between LGAs
Adult education
Often building on prior digital skills interventions across a range of issues
Social housing
Where social housing is in house or local arms length
Resourcing of DI is patchy and cyclical/not constant
Often draws on budget of location where DI lead is based<br>
slide6. Local government Where and how to intervene?
Specific intervention – provision of training, kit, or infrastructure
Focus may relate to where DI is “owned”
Systemic engagement
Across the Local Government – examples we know of:
Leeds – 100% Digital Leeds
Oxford – we believe built into all strategies
Across local delivery infrastructure/ecosystems
Partial in many places
The key question – funding
Different Local Governments are utilizing different budgets to address DI<br>
slide7. Local government Policy and place leavers
Context not same for all Local Governments
Relationship to social housing – in house, arms length, or external
What role private landlords
Infrastructure
Digital and technical infrastructure – what can they influence/use?
Regional partners and 3rd sector eco-systems
Who can they engage with to support delivery – especially of training/support
Other policy priorities
Health and wellbeing
Education
Regeneration<br>
slide8. General Themes and Recap<br>
slide9. Social Housing Providers All providers have already been addressing digital inclusion
Stockport for example had previously offered social tariffs, fitted tower blocks with reduced cost broadband and fitted out a void property within the block to provide training (also seen as helpful in reducing social isolation)
All providers noted the challenge of providing long-term support.
Finance is often fixed term as maybe access offers (data, reduced cost broadband)
Sustainability remains a key issue
More than just digital
Lots of offers by Social Housing Providers either directly offer or are connected to a range of community-based provision.
These include things like skills and employability, activities to address loneliness etc.
There is a recognition that tackling digital inclusion isn’t just about devices or cabling in the walls, its about giving people opportunities to connect with other, access services and support.<br>
slide10. Housing Providers Frontline realities
A real commitment from the Social Housing Providers to address digital inclusion issues
However…
Providers and their staff are key frontline service for their tenants
Many tenants are feeling some of the most profound effects of the cost of living crisis.
Colleagues within the organisations are dealing with these issues alongside digital inclusion:
setting up warm hubs
trying to identify the appropriate benefits/support to alleviate the effects of the cost of living/energy crisis<br>
slide11. Social Tariffs Message still not getting through
Nationally 2/3rd Not aware
Nationally close to 40% who they are targeted at don’t think they are for them
Locally in our data so far 50% who responded are not interested in a social tariff
Majority 80%of those who are offline and could take a social tariff are not interested
Big concerns over practicality and contracts
Sweet spot of about £10 per month and no tie in
But Social Tariffs may be below our nationally identified MDLS for households with families – ok for an individual maybe<br>
slide12. Broadband and mobile From both the MDSL work and interviews with residents so far:
Mobile data is necessary but not sufficient – must have but may not be enough
You can get by on mobile data, and it is really a last “line of defence”
Data on top of broadband is what provides real benefit to citizens
Its Quality access and Mobility
Anecdotal but people who are mobile only often like places “to be / do digital”<br>
slide13. Interventions and skills Experience of interventions being transitory
Experience of support falling off after 6 months / year / end of project
Equipment loaned/given/shared is often older/cheaper with short shelf life
Moving beyond functional skills in support and training is a challenge
It’s the skills for confident safe use that people fall short on<br>
slide14. Links to other projects Minimum Digital Living Standard
From our national project: “A minimum digital standard of living includes, but is more than having accessible internet, adequate equipment, and the skills, knowledge, and support people need. It is about being able to communicate, connect, and engage with opportunities safely and with confidence”
Basket of goods services, support, and skills needed to meet this has been defined for Households with children. Full details to be published in February along with Welsh Government.
Three key areas of need:
Access and basic equipment
Functional skills
Skills for safety and confidence<br>
slide15. Takeaways Local partnership is key
Skills are a bit of Cinderella issues in the programme but becoming key in things like MDLS and other measures
Social housing providers are at the nexus of issues for digital inclusion
But they are for lots of other things too (health, wellbeing, aging, cost-of-living)
They need to have or be supported to have dedicated DI lead role
Landlords in general may need to be supported/required/helped to provide a minimum digital offer to tenants to support their access to services
ISPs can be a core part of delivering solutions but:
Partnerships need to be long term and integrated
Other provider solutions (local networks) may also have a role
National UK debate and action on DI is limited at moment
As with Wales and Scotland there may need to be a clearer demand from regions
But splitting out national and devolved opportunites<br>