Funding secured to raise digital inclusion in Stoke-on-Trent.

The Wavemaker team are thrilled to have been successful in securing funding as part of the Community Renewal Fund. Our proposed Digital Innovation and Education Hub aims to reduce digital inequalities in Stoke on Trent. The Digital Innovation and Education Hub is very much a collaboration, and working alongside Wavemaker to deliver this project is Stoke- on-Trent City Council, Staffordshire University, Framescape VFX Specialists, Places of Welcome, as well as other local leaders, businesses and organisations. 

Our aim is to build confidence and enhance digital skills of citizens in the local area and beyond.

The Stoke-on-Trent Digital Innovation and Education Hub through a multifaceted approach will focus on providing citizens with the support to become more digitised and knowledgeable to utilise digital and technology methods to boost their health and wellbeing along with providing citizens with the skills to participate more proficiently in a digitised economy. The project collaborators will work alongside local communities to establish digital champions, who in turn will be able to provide support and knowledge to their local group and or community to encourage the use of digital technology in the future, working towards digital inclusion.

The delivery of digital upskilling and support will comprise of twenty free to access webinars (that focus on areas such as e-safety, staying connected, accessing NHS and social care services, accessing government services and employment skills) for both community leaders and members of the public. These will be created by the Wavemaker team with input from experts in specific fields.

 As part of the project’s development and digitisation to local services the Council’s adult social care website will be redesigned offering direct information and support for people who require this. An app library will also be developed with input from digital champions and voluntary sector organisations and reviewed by Telecare Service staff to ensure the sharing of trusted and reliable information.

A key feature of the project is the distribution of personal assistive devices which will be offered to service clients of adult social care reviewed by the Council’s adult social care team along with the Council’s Telecare services, with the Wavemaker team offering guidance and support remotely to all recipients.

In relation to employability skills, several events and workshops will be provided by Framscape and led by experts in animation and VFX to introduce these skills to people locally.

With a focus on improving the health and wellbeing of local people and encouraging people to self-care, the My Wellbeing Kit will be offered to individuals by linking with local communities to establish appropriate recipients. These kits aim to empower and motivate people to consider their health and equip individuals with items or devices and information to implement a healthier more independent lifestyle. Videos on how to use each kit will be provided and remote support will be available also.

As part of the project online fitness and wellbeing classes will be delivered through the Council’s Leisure Services, via a dedicated project lead who will oversee the training/upskilling of Leisure Services staff to provide and promote the classes. 

The project aims to equip the local population (all people, including older people and those with long-term conditions or from disadvantaged groups) and support organisations with skills and resources to successfully implement digital technology into their everyday lives to benefit their health and wellbeing with a view to confidently communicate and access services and support appropriate to their needs via digital technology.

Introducing younger generations to learning presented by Framescape VFX specialists will offer individuals an insight into exciting new skills and opportunities available to them to consider for future education and employment. 

Digital inclusion is at the core of what we do and we can’t wait to get started on this project.