Bridging the digital divide in Eastbourne
By Sarah Cronk
The digital divide is real. Despite Eastbourne being a great place for digital, it still exists here. So what is our town doing about it? How can you help to bridge the gap?
First off, let’s recap: what is the digital divide?
UK Parliament’s rapid response defines the digital divide as “the gap between people in society who have full access to digital technologies (such as the internet and computers) and those who do not.” 1
Concerns over this digital divide have accelerated dramatically during the pandemic, as digital communications and devices have played such an important role in maintaining access to friends, families, medical and shopping provisions, as well as other services.
Some 89% of adults in the UK now use the internet daily or almost every day2, but Consumer Digital Index findings show that 16% of the UK population, 9 million people, are unable to use the internet and a device by themselves.3
Why are people affected by this divide?
There are many reasons why people are unable to have full access to technology, including not having access or skills to use the infrastructure or devices, age, region and socioeconomic status. Disability or impairment can also play its part. The impact of this is huge and can result in people not accessing the vital services they need, not to mention work opportunities.
The Lloyds Bank UK Consumer Digital Index 20204 shows a number of the barriers to digital engagement that people face include:
Motivation and lack of interest
Control and transparency around ethical data use
Cost of services and devices, with more than half of those offline not having the disposable income to afford an average monthly broadband bill
Needing support from someone
Websites and apps not being easy enough to understand
Impairment, with some 42% of those with an impairment having low or very low digital engagement.
Digital skills play a big factor in the divide. As mentioned above, 16% of the UK do not have the Foundation-level digital skills required to start using the internet and technology effectively by themselves5, defined under seven fundamental tasks:
“I cannot use the different menu settings on a device to make it easier to use (e.g. change the font size to make it easier to read)”
“I cannot connect a device to a Wi-Fi network”
“I cannot update and change my password when prompted to do so”
“I cannot find and open different applications/programmes on a device”
“I cannot turn on a device and log in to any accounts/profiles that I have”
“I cannot open an Internet browser to find and use websites”
“I cannot use the available controls on a device (e.g. mouse, keyboard, touchscreen etc).”
Looking at wider levels of digital literacy and capability, 22% of the population in 2020 did not have Essential Digital Skills for Life6; a compilation of 29 Life Tasks based around communicating, transacting, handling information and content, and being safe and legal online.
It is clear that there are numerous factors playing into the causes of the divide.
What’s Eastbourne doing about it?
In October 2020 our MP for Eastbourne and Willingdon, Caroline Ansell, said: “The digital divide is something that is really concerning me in Eastbourne and it has accelerated since the pandemic with shielding, lockdown and social distancing. The disadvantages – on every level, financial and social to name but two – are only deepening.”7
She added, “The pandemic has really highlighted the digital divide for people who cannot afford computers or only have one but it is needed by several members of the family for school work or working from home. I am committed to addressing the digital divide.”8
Caroline has supported local CIC Tubbs Computer Supplies, which refurbishes and supplies computers and devices to low-income families and older people in and around Eastbourne. Tubbs Computer Supplies takes old, unused equipment such as laptops, monitors, PC towers, tablets, cables and keyboards, removes any data and refurbishes the devices. It then provides these devices to people who may need them for their job search, CV writing, homework or school work, or online shopping.
Another Eastbourne-based CIC TechResort, is also concerned by the divide. CEO Will Callaghan said, “while we don’t have exact digital literacy numbers for Eastbourne, we know that thousands of people lack skills and kit. Our town’s age demographic means digital exclusion levels could be far higher than the national average.”9
They are helping to bridge the digital divide through more laptop provision and digital literacy sessions, as well as providing individuals and businesses free or cheap tech advice. They provide a Digital Do Tank to help with inclusion, literacy, enrichment, work, third sector, business and safety10.
These are just a couple of the examples of the organisations available in Eastbourne to help address this digital divide.
How you can help to get people online
Firstly, you can help by donating old or unused tech to Tubbs Computer Supplies or TechResort. This small action will mean getting devices into the hands of those who need them.
Aside from that, there are plenty of resources out there to help people get online. Here are just some of the services available to assist:
Coffee Pot Computing provide digital training for residents aged 50+ using laptops, iPads, tablets, smartphones and Kindle. They run sessions at Leaf Hall, 51 Seaside, in Eastbourne on Wednesday mornings (10am-12 noon). £3 donation per session, no booking required, drop in on any session, any time.
See more on their Facebook page, contact coffeepotters@gmail.com, or call 07973 549155.
This free online course will help learners to improve their digital skills at times that suit them. Through the course, learners will achieve a nationally-recognised Level 2 qualification and be able to further their personal and professional development. The 8-12 week course is aimed at those either in employment or searching for employment, particularly in relation to the management of information, digital safety, security and communication.
Visually Impaired Level 2 and Level 3 IT Users Certificates
This course at East Sussex College is a practical, hands-on course taught one-to-one with a personal tutor. Participants will be able to learn and/or improve basic IT skills across a range of software packages using assistive software and hardware. The Level 2 course is £435 and the Level 3 course is £1417.
This free course run by East Sussex College and Brighton & Hove City Council will equip learners with an essential toolkit of digital and creative skills to meet employer demands, helping to create an impressive portfolio of work to stand out for any hiring manager. Learners will fine-tune networking, pitching and presentation skills, build a website and create an online portfolio and creative CV, and practice using professional design and marketing software.
IT for You at Eastbourne Library
Local volunteers offer free one-to-one support on everyday computer skills at local libraries. Learners can discover how to use email and the internet, stay safe online, search and apply for work, download and use the NHS app, keep in touch with friends and family, and learn Microsoft Office and more. There are no tests or exams and you can attend as many sessions as you need. Group sessions are also available. Call 01323 463759 to find out more and book a place.
SELEP is providing free digital skills training to help people get back into work. If your career has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and you live in the south east of England, you could be entitled to training and a free device and/or data. Get in touch with them via skills@we-are-digital.co.uk, call 0114 551 2551, or text SKILLS to 88440.
If you are looking for work, get in touch with the People Matter Charitable Trust which provides quality information, advice, guidance and practical help to jobseekers in Eastbourne. When available, they offer a six-week introductory course on IT skills for jobseekers at their office in Saffrons Road.
Helen Owen Marketing Enterprises (HOME) CIC
This CIC provides online training for people that need help getting into work, ranging from searching for jobs online, help with confidence, and using social media to find work. They also provide training drop-ins for face-to-face support at the Seaside Community Hub, as well as free or low-cost website creation to advertise services.
Women are underrepresented in creative and digital organisations, and girls are underrepresented in higher-level computer science subjects. This TechResort session helps women who want to know what their children are learning in the National Computing Curriculum, so they’re better able to help at home.
TechResort is restarting its teens' sessions to explore 3D design and printing, Lego robots, Python programming, design for laser cutting and handheld console game design. They hope that students will explore more subjects such as Raspberry Pi, microcontrollers and sensors, electronics, robotics, web design and VR, among others.
Anyone in Eastbourne can get free and low-cost help with digital skills through TechResort’s Digital Do Tank. They can help with all kinds of things, from getting online, building confidence using the internet, boosting skills for people who need them for work, and basic online safety. They have equipment, tools and techniques to share.
This service teaches carers how to use their computer to support them in their caring role. Carers are offered six one-to-one sessions where a volunteer will teach them how to use their own computer, tablet or smartphone, perhaps to keep in touch with family and friends, do shopping and banking online, or order repeat prescriptions.
Barclays Digital Eagles help everyone get the most out of digital. Learn to code with the Code Playground, grow your digital confidence with their virtual events, or try their Digital Wings resources to find out more about e-commerce, YouTube, and frauds and scams, for example.
Learners can discover the fundamentals of digital literacy with their course to teach the skills necessary to engage in a digital economy. Available in different languages, you can choose the relevant courses to suit you on their website.
We know there’s more out there
There are plenty of resources available that we haven’t touched upon. Other local schools, colleges and organisations offer classes both for young people and wider the community. If you offer something that suits this list, please let us know so we can add to it.
Of course, many of these resources are only available thanks to the help of funding, donations and volunteers. If you find yourself on the other side of the digital divide, consider what skills, knowledge, funds or equipment you are able to share personally in order to narrow this gap.
Up to date as of April 2022, services may change.
Sources
UK Parliament. 2020. COVID-19 and the digital divide. [online] Available at: https://post.parliament.uk/covid-19-and-the-digital-divide/ [Accessed 11 April 2022].
Table A, 2020 Dataset.
Ons.gov.uk. 2020. Internet access - households and individuals: 95% confidence intervals - Office for National Statistics. [online] Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/householdcharacteristics/homeinternetandsocialmediausage/datasets/internetaccesshouseholdsandindividuals95confidenceintervals [Accessed 11 April 2022]
Page 7.
Lloydsbank.com. 2020. Lloyds Bank UK Consumer Digital Index 2020. [online] Available at: https://www.lloydsbank.com/assets/media/pdfs/banking_with_us/whats-happening/lb-consumer-digital-index-2020-report.pdf [Accessed 11 April 2022].
Page 18.
Lloydsbank.com. 2020. Lloyds Bank UK Consumer Digital Index 2020. [online] Available at: https://www.lloydsbank.com/assets/media/pdfs/banking_with_us/whats-happening/lb-consumer-digital-index-2020-report.pdf [Accessed 11 April 2022].
Page 39.
Lloydsbank.com. 2020. Lloyds Bank UK Consumer Digital Index 2020. [online] Available at: https://www.lloydsbank.com/assets/media/pdfs/banking_with_us/whats-happening/lb-consumer-digital-index-2020-report.pdf [Accessed 11 April 2022].
Page 43.
Lloydsbank.com. 2020. Lloyds Bank UK Consumer Digital Index 2020. [online] Available at: https://www.lloydsbank.com/assets/media/pdfs/banking_with_us/whats-happening/lb-consumer-digital-index-2020-report.pdf [Accessed 11 April 2022].
Sussexexpress.co.uk. 2020. CAROLINE ANSELL MP: Pandemic has deepened the digital divide. [online] Available at: https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/opinion/columnists/caroline-ansell-mp-pandemic-has-deepened-the-digital-divide-3004118 [Accessed 11 April 2022].
Caroline Ansell. 2020. Get your Kit Out Campaign. [online] Available at: https://www.carolineansell.co.uk/news/get-your-kit-out-campaign [Accessed 11 April 2022].
Callaghan, W., 2020. Tech can help EB recover from lockdown - TechResort. [online] TechResort. Available at: https://techresort.org/how-tech-can-help-eastbourne-recover-from-lockdown/ [Accessed 11 April 2022].
Crew, L., 2020. Introducing our Digital Do Tank - TechResort. [online] TechResort. Available at: https://techresort.org/digital-do-tank/ [Accessed 11 April 2022].
