“At Family Fund we’re helping to break down the barriers to digital inclusion”
Tuesday 12 September 2023 is End Digital Poverty Day. Digital poverty is defined as the inability to interact with the online world fully, when, where and how you need to. Here, Alison Davies, Head of Service Development and Delivery at Family Fund, explains how Family Fund helps to break down the barriers to digital inclusion.
Living in today’s digital world
It’s hard to imagine life without access to digital technology. How would you manage without using your phone or laptop for banking, shopping, scheduling appointments or setting reminders? There really is an app for everything you need.
Yes, some of us remember how we managed before. (We may even think of them as far simpler times.) But technological advances have made a huge impact on everyone and everything in the modern world.
The digital world can enrich our lives, and those of our children. It provides access to information, social connections, improved communication, efficiencies with ‘life laundry’ and vast entertainment and education opportunities.
Digital access can improve quality of life, but not everyone is able to participate fully. This is something we, at Family Fund, want to address through our vision that “families raising disabled or seriously ill children have the same choices, quality of life, opportunities, and aspirations as other families”. And through our mission “to improve the day-to-day lives of families on a low income, raising a disabled or seriously ill child, or young person.”
Digital technology and the families we support
The families we support are typically on the lowest incomes and have significant caring responsibilities. They often have to make and attend frequent appointments with several different services. Many have to complete welfare and assessment forms and even provide therapies and medical care.
In recent years, technology devices have become one of the most requested of our grants. Parents and carers want devices to help support their children. However, they then report they aren’t confident in using the devices themselves. They’re often unaware of the capabilities the devices have, or how being more skilled with with them could help.
”I wanted to understand more about using the iPad and tailor the device for [my son] to support his development, but I wasn’t sure where to start. The Family Fund workshop was a fantastic taster session, introducing me to the iPad’s potential and setting me on the path to learn more. I’d really recommend it.”
Discover Digital and Finances Online workshops
This was the catalyst for our ‘Discover Digital’ programme. It offers free, interactive, online, digital skills workshops, information, and signposting. Workshops are relaxed and friendly and delivered by specialist trainers, with in-depth knowledge, who are experienced in supporting families. We also deliver workshops through our ‘Finances Online’ support. Here, families can learn how to use the internet to maximise their income and make daily life a little easier.
”There was a time when me and my two sons spent two days with a bag of bread and a jar of chocolate spread. And that was all we had to eat. Not because I lost money, but because that’s how much I had to pay for bills.
Now I’ve got this iPad, I know how to check and compare companies quickly. I was paying almost double the price for gas – over £1,100 for a two bedroom house. Now I’ve learnt how to compare them, I’ve halved my electricity bill alone. That’s one of the things I learnt.”
It’s a tricky business trying to learn new skills when you already have so much to contend with. However, we find that our families are driven by supporting their children. Because of this, we can encourage them to get started. They can then find out more and continue their journey. This is where being part of the Digital Poverty Alliance helps. It allows sharing of resources and best practice in a collaborative environment. Through this, we can guide people to other sources of help, such as where to get data or further skills.
For me, the impact of this small intervention can be transformational. I have seen it and feel honoured to be able to be a part of it.