Support Digital Inclusion at Framework
The Digital Inclusion team has been funded solely by the support of charities and businesses that have donated to Framework.
If you are reading this we hope that you will support us to continue the work we have be delivering to vulnerable people within Framework.
Read below to learn more about the need for digital inclusion, what our goals are and how we’ve achieved, current projects and a list of different ways you could support us.
The need for Digital Inclusion
In the United Kingdom, digital inclusion plays a crucial part in promoting equality and opportunity. Digital skills and access essential parts of every day supporting peoples, health, education, work and social interaction.
According to Ofcom, around 6% of UK adults had no internet access at home in 2026. Good Things Foundation’s Digital Nation 2026 report found that about 8 million adults lack basic digital skills, and only 1 in 3 adults are comfortable online.
Framework supports people who have been at risk of homelessness by councils and can be people experiencing multiple disadvantages.
Imagine being homeless while experiencing these disadvantages:
- No device: many people we support have no phone, tablet or laptop of their own, or one that is broken or locked.
- No connection: data is costly, and temporary or dispersed accommodation often has no reliable wifi.
- Low confidence and skills: people may never have had the chance to learn, or lost their skills and confidence after time out of work, education or stable housing.
- Safety online: scams, phishing and online abuse are bigger risks for people who haven’t had support to spot them.
- Services moving online: many essential services now expect people to apply, report or book online first.
- Wider benefits: being digitally included supports employment, health, wellbeing, independence and a sustainable move on from homelessness.
Our goals and impact
To tackle digital exclusion amongst our service users, we set goals to address the barriers keeping people from being included:
Provide 1-2-1 digital skill sessions to improve skills and confidence
Improve access to internet enabled devices throughout the organisation
Provide laptops and phones directly to service users to support independence
Improve access to, and knowledge about internet connectivity
Click here to learn more about the impact we’ve had:
Digital Skills Sessions
Having a device and a connection is only the first step. Many of the people we support have never had the chance to build their digital skills, or have lost confidence after time out of work, education or stable housing.
Our digital skills sessions give service users practical, friendly support at a pace that suits them. We cover the basics, such as setting up an email account, using a smartphone, searching for jobs and managing benefits and tenancy accounts online. We also help people stay safe online by spotting scams and protecting their personal information, and we look at newer areas such as digital health and AI.
These skills help people access essential services, find work, stay connected and take control of their lives, and they make it far more likely that a donated device will be used to its full potential.
264 Digital Skills Sessions Delivered
Delivering sessions around a variety of locations.
Over 500 Digital Skill Session Attendees.
Service users rated the quality, and enjoyment of support they received.
81% left us 5 star reviews and 15% 4 stars.
96% positive Service user Feedback
Service users rated the quality, and enjoyment of support they received.
81% left us 5 star reviews and 15% 4 stars.
Devices In services
To make it as easy as possible for our service users to access the internet, we created opportunities for service users to access internet enabled devices in over 80 different services and locations across Framework.
Using a mix of IT suites, kiosks and loan laptops, we have brought connectivity to everyone who uses these services.
Using Chrome Flex and Google management console we have created a safe managed network where we can promote resources and materials to anyone using one of our laptops. This also allows us to run all our laptops on managed guests sessions which will clear each users data after use, allowing our service users to use our devices safely and securely.
Devices in lots of services!
Needs copy!
5600 individual sessions per year
Needs copy!
14,000 hours of laptop usage
Needs copy!
Donating Devices Directly to service users
Thanks to the generous donations from our corporate sponsors we have been able to donate laptops directly to the service users who would benefit the most.
176 Laptops
By directly allocating laptops to service users, we have been able to support them to enter education, support them to over come digital exclusion and empower them to make full use of the benefits the internet has to offer.
138 phones
Having a phone with data allows people to make appointments for housing, health and employment.
It also acts as a vital lifeline for people to stay in touch with friends and family, enabling them to find support and improve their lives.
tablets/Kindles
Needs copy!
Current Projects
Supporting Young People in Derbyshire
We have just been award a new £10,000 grant from Digital Support Derbyshire, delivered through Rural Action Derbyshire. We are running digital skills sessions for 18 to 24-year-olds living in our supported accommodation.
Over one million young people in the UK aged 16 to 24 are not in education, employment or training, around 1 in 8, and the lost potential is estimated to cost the economy £125 billion a year.
Many of the young people we support in Swadlincote and Long Eaton have already been let down by the usual routes into learning and work.
We want to go further
We are asking digital-focused businesses to help us show these young people what is possible. You could host a day trip or workplace visit, run a workshop or talk, or offer work experience. Even a small contribution can show a young person a future they hadn’t considered.
Get in touch to find out how you can help.
How You can Help
Whatever your size or sector, there’s a way for your business to make a difference. Every contribution helps us get more people online, build their skills and move forward.
Donate Devices
laptops, tablets and smartphones, ideally in working order with chargers. Devices that are a few years old are still very useful to us.
Donate connectivity equipment:
Donate connectivity equipment: routers and mobile wifi devices to help us get people online in dispersed and temporary accommodation.
Provide SIM cards and data:
SIMs with data bundles let people use their devices straight away, whether to apply for jobs, manage benefits or stay in touch.
Financially support us
funds go towards buying devices, connectivity and equipment for the people we support.
Offer work experience days:
give young people a look at a digital workplace, including what the roles involve and what skills are needed.
Share your skills:
give a talk or workshop for Framework colleagues and our wider skills-sharing sessions. Topics could include online safety, careers in tech, AI, or how digital skills are used in your industry.
Donate Devices
laptops, tablets and smartphones, ideally in working order with chargers. Devices that are a few years old are still very useful to us.
Donate connectivity equipment:
Donate connectivity equipment: routers and mobile wifi devices to help us get people online in dispersed and temporary accommodation.
Provide SIM cards and data:
SIMs with data bundles let people use their devices straight away, whether to apply for jobs, manage benefits or stay in touch.
Financially support us
funds go towards buying devices, connectivity and equipment for the people we support.
Offer work experience days:
give young people a look at a digital workplace, including what the roles involve and what skills are needed.
Share your skills:
give a talk or workshop for Framework colleagues and our wider skills-sharing sessions. Topics could include online safety, careers in tech, AI, or how digital skills are used in your industry.