Get Online Week: Helping families build confidence and skills online 

From managing everyday tasks and accessing essential services to staying connected with friends and family, being online is an important part of everyday life.

But for many families raising disabled or seriously ill children, getting online isn’t always straightforward. A lack of digital skills, the cost of devices and accessibility challenges can make it harder for families to benefit from the digital world.

That’s why, at Family Fund, we’re helping families overcome these challenges through our free Discover Digital workshops, designed to build practical skills and confidence using technology.

Whether you’re looking to get more confident with everyday online tasks, learn how to manage your money online or explore new digital activities, our friendly trainers are here to help you learn at your own pace.

This Get Online Week, we’re encouraging families to discover what’s possible online and explore the free workshops and support available to help them get started.

The barriers families face 

Our recent research, Digitally Excluded 2026 found that 50% of families surveyed experienced at least one digital skills barrier. Among families who were digitally excluded, this rose to 98%, with 26% experiencing three or more skills barriers. 

These findings highlight why tackling digital exclusion requires more than simply providing access to devices or the internet. Families also need affordable connectivity, accessible support and opportunities to develop their digital skills. 

Building confidence through Discover Digital 

At Family Fund, we’re working to help families overcome some of these barriers through our free Discover Digital programme. 

Our online workshops support parents, carers, children and young people to develop practical digital skills, discover useful tools and build confidence using technology. 

From learning how to stay safe online to exploring creative apps and tools that make everyday life easier, our sessions are designed to be accessible, welcoming and supportive. We’ve already seen the difference these sessions can make for families. 

A parent at one of our Staying Safe Online workshops said:

“I am very eager to complete more workshops; I would love to do the workshop on creating websites using Canva next. Every time I complete a workshop, I am always thinking about what I can do next to help make life less difficult for myself and my family.”

How our workshops are making a difference for families

For 15-year-old Isabella, digital access is about much more than getting online. Through Family Fund’s Discover Digital workshops, she has found a safe, supportive space where she can develop new skills, challenge herself and enjoy activities tailored to her needs. 

Sarah, mum to Isabella, spoke to us about how having access to digital access is a life changing tool for her family. Sarah lives in the Midlands with her husband and daughter Isabella, who has multiple rare genetic and neurological conditions and is a full time wheelchair user. Isabella’s genetic condition affects her respiratory system, growth and immune system, and she had a bone marrow transplant 3 years ago.

Isabella regularly takes part in Family Fund’s online workshops, her mum told us: 

“Isabella loves the Family Fund workshops, because it challenges her and she has to focus. She learns things that you wouldn’t get in school and she loves the activities.  

She’s very clever and loves to be challenged. She doesn’t want to do anything particularly too easy. The problem with other online stuff that’s for the general public, it’s either too fast-paced or not understanding of individual needs.   

That’s why the Family Fund workshops are great; she feels it’s a very comfortable, safe place. I can see when she comes off them, she’s buzzing and she spends another hour finishing off whatever she’s been doing first – and then I get to talk to her!  

I know people may see a kid on a tablet and they think it’s bad – well, actually, no. And particularly for SEN families, it’s actually a really useful tool.” 

Find out more and join our workshops  

Get Online Week highlights the importance of ensuring everyone can benefit from being online, yet too many families raising disabled or seriously ill children continue to face barriers to digital access. At Family Fund, we’re helping families build their digital skills through our Discover Digital programme, while calling for more affordable, inclusive and accessible digital support. 

Find out more about the challenges families face in our Digitally Excluded 2026 report, or explore our Discover Digital resources.