Getting the most vulnerable online during COVID-19

We’ve now been running our Crowdfunder campaign for over a year and we want to thank you all and share what your donation has meant to the people you’ve helped.

Judy

Judy had always been afraid of technology. Her husband, who died last year, never used the internet or computers for work, meaning both had been very far removed from the digital world.

With her local library receiving devices from the Everyone Connected programme, they were able to get a data enabled tablet out to Judy at the start of the pandemic.

For her, the support offered by staff at the library as well as the ease of using the tablet really helped her develop her digital literacy skills. When Covid-19 restrictions lift, Judy hopes to begin attending digital skills classes at her local library.

Judy tells us about overcoming her fear:

“Although I’m still nervous about buying anything online or downloading any additional apps, I feel I have come a long way from someone who was originally so scared of technology and computers. The experience has been fantastic, I’ve done things I never thought I’d be able to do.”

Read Judy’s full story. 

Your generous contributions have helped thousands of people like Judy to reconnect with family and friends when they were at risk of becoming isolated during the pandemic.  

Our appeal continues...

Last month, Ofcom's Online Nation 2021 report found that despite people using online services more than ever during the pandemic, it has created a bigger digital divide.  6% of households (around 1.5 million) have no internet access, with older people (18% of over-64s) and adults in lower socio-economic households (11%) even more likely to be without.   

Covid-19 has accelerated the digital transformation.  With an uncertain economy and 92% of employers saying that having a basic level of digital skills was important for employees at their organisation (WorldSkills UK, Disconnected? report) - access to a device, data and skills support has never been more important. That’s why we’re extending our appeal one last time to raise £100,000, to continue to support vulnerable people impacted by the pandemic to get online.  

Any further contributions would be most welcome and we’d appreciate it if you could share our Crowdfunder page with your family and friends if you haven’t already.

Thank you very much for your continued support!