Bridging the Digital Divide, Together

Wavemaker Ben had the privilege of attending a major digital health conference in London, hosted by The King’s Fund - an event that brought together some of the biggest players, disruptors, and thinkers in the healthcare and tech world.

Wavemaker was honoured with the Responsible Business of the Year award. This accolade celebrates organisations that go above and beyond to make a positive impact on their communities and the environment.

When Moorcroft Pottery, founded in 1913 and internationally renowned for its distinctive Flambé ware, ceased trading at the end of April 2025 due to spiraling energy costs, 57 dedicated workers lost their jobs, taking with them over 1,500 years of combined experience in the ceramics craft. Faced with the daunting prospect of entering a digital-first job market - many without even an email address after decades at the potbank - our team of Digital First Responders, in partnership with the GMB Union and Stoke-on-Trent Council’s JET Team, mobilised to offer vital support.

This week, Wavemaker proudly partnered with Caudwell Children, a national charity dedicated to improving the lives of disabled children and young people. Housed in a striking space on Keele University’s campus, our inaugural session set out to equip a group of young adults - identified by the Department for Work and Pensions - with the digital skills and confidence they need to step into the world of work.

Wavemaker has been shortlisted in two fiercely contested categories at this year’s Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards: Digital Award and Responsible Business of the Year. The double nomination celebrates both our innovative use of technology and our enduring commitment to social impact across Staffordshire.

Empowering refugees and asylum seekers in Hanley with hands-on AI tools-from real-time translation to creative image and music generation - our workshop with ASHA shows how accessible tech can transform new lives.

We were back working with the Next Steps programme, run through Stoke City Council - a brilliant initiative that supports young care leavers in the city and connects them with organisations like Wavemaker, giving them access to opportunities, skills training, and support that really matters.

We’re thrilled to welcome Bescura Family Hub, based at Port Vale Football Club, as the latest organisation to become a Wavemaker Connect site! This exciting new partnership brings enhanced digital access, learning opportunities, and community engagement to families across the local area.

This four-week course marks an exciting continuation of our partnership with JET (Jobs, Employability and Training). The young learners attending have already been on a transformative journey with us: through previous workshops, they've each received a Chromebook from the Wavemaker Device Bank to support their development. Now, they're returning—laptops in hand—ready to take their next steps towards a successful career.

We’re thrilled to welcome Bescura Family Hub, based at Port Vale Football Club, as the latest organisation to become a Wavemaker Connect site! This exciting new partnership brings enhanced digital access, learning opportunities, and community engagement to families across the local area.

Introducing Ripple: A New Mental Health App for Young People

The Government’s new Digital Inclusion Pathway Action Plan has recently launched – and now’s your chance to shape what happens next. A public consultation is currently open, inviting responses to the Open Call for Evidence. This is a vital opportunity to ensure the voices of communities and organisations working to close the digital divide are heard.