New fund delivers digital boost for Suffolk

Almost £250,000 of funding was announced at an event today, giving a boost to the county’s ambitions to reduce the number of people excluded from the benefits of digital technology.

Published: 25 Oct 2023

Group photo of partners at the launch — From Left to Right: Cllr Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Suffolk County Council Deputy Cabinet Member for Transformation; Cllr Bobby Bennett, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Equality and Communities, Stuart Keeble, Director of Public Health at Suffolk County Council, Melanie Craig, Chief Executive Officer of Suffolk Community Foundation, Nick Khan Strategic Director at East Suffolk Council, Andy Yacoub, Chief Executive of Healthwatch Suffolk, Monika and Romeo, community partners with Suffolk Community Foundation.

Suffolk County Council has contributed £100,000, with £143,000 coming from District and Borough council funding, earmarked for digital inclusion projects.

Suffolk’s Digital Inclusion Fund will be open to bidders from early November for initiatives that will support people of all ages, but particularly those who are at risk of being disadvantaged by being excluded from accessing digital support and information.

The fund has been created as a collaboration between Suffolk County Council, district and borough councils, voluntary and private sector partners and Suffolk Community Foundation. It is a direct result of Suffolk County County’s Policy Development Panel, held in 2022, which recommended a series of actions to reduce digital poverty and its effects in Suffolk.

Today’s event called on key partners to support the new fund, making a further commitment to playing their part in the ambition for a digitally enabled Suffolk. Prospective bidders are encouraged to apply through Suffolk Community Foundation’s website www.suffolkcf.org.uk

Evidence suggests that by not having the skills or the means to use online services – everything from online shopping, looking up important information and advice and using transactional services such as applying for bus passes – people are at risk of poorer health, reduced income and even a lower life expectancy.

In 2021, Healthwatch Suffolk, who participated in the event, co-produced principles for digital health and care. These principles provide important guidance for organisations intending to deliver health or social care services using digital to ensure people have a meaningful choice over how and when they access information and it is available to them in the format they need.

I’m delighted to launch the new Digital Inclusion Fund for Suffolk. Through this fund we can support projects which will make a real difference in increasing digital inclusion in our county. From online shopping to applying for a bus pass, we are moving more and more towards digital solutions in our everyday lives. We want to make sure people are not left behind, whether that’s through improving access to more affordable broadband, building vital life skills or providing additional support. This is an exciting opportunity to support more people in Suffolk to benefit from digital technology and work to address poor health outcomes linked to digital exclusion.
Councillor Bobby Bennett, cabinet member for Equality and Communities

Today’s fund launch is a fantastic example of putting recommendations into action. The Policy Development Panel wanted to supply the impetus for local projects to make increased digital inclusion a reality, by offering funding to organisations and groups who know their communities best. This is a practical commitment of Suffolk County Council empowering local people in local communities right across the county. It is just the start of what I hope will be a transformative process that will make a difference to Suffolk people’s lives.
Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Deputy Cabinet Member for Transformation, who led the 2022 Policy Development Panel

Speakers at the event included Cllr Bobby Bennett, Cllr Faircloth-Mutton, Stuart Keeble, Director of Public Health, Nick Khan, Strategic Director at East Suffolk Council and Andy Yacoub, Chief Executive of Healthwatch Suffolk, Melanie Craig, Chief Executive Officer of Suffolk Community Foundation and Tim Holder, Director of Development and Communications at Suffolk Community Foundation.

Healthwatch Suffolk’s Digital Care and Health: Guiding principles for health and social care providers and commissioners planning or delivering digital care in Suffolk and north east Essex is available at www.healthwatchsuffolk.co.uk