About the Digital Inclusion Programme
Grant funding is available through the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s allocation of UK Shared Prosperity Fund to develop locally based digital support projects for individuals.
The programme builds on the learning and success of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Digital Inclusion 2024/25 Programme delivered in North Yorkshire, which is now being extended into York. The previous programme funded 40 individual projects. You can find details of these projects here.
Programme Objectives
The programme aim is to increase digital inclusion support across York and North Yorkshire. This will be achieved by developing sustainable digital hubs across York and North Yorkshire, and support in upskilling hub volunteers and employees to become digital champions.
The digital champions will support communities in accessing digital inclusion support, alongside related interventions that address the broader determinants of health inequalities.
Eligible organisations can apply for capital funding to purchase equipment, support with infrastructure and/or development (revenue) funding for start-up costs, volunteer co-ordination and access to training.
Successful projects will achieve at least one of the following objectives:
- Supporting individuals with a high level of need.
- Supporting individuals to access key digital services such as local authority or health.
- Working in collaboration with existing digital support services e.g North Yorkshire Reboot or IT Reuse.
- Delivering health, social care and social prescribing digital inclusion projects.
- Supporting children and families including support around safe and managed access to social media.
Funding Opportunity and Requirements
Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations, Public Sector bodies, and Primary Care providers can apply for grants for the development of locally based digital support projects for individuals.
All successful grant applicants will have free access to a broad range of funded digital inclusion and related courses and training for 2025/2026.
All successful grant applicants will agree to their digital champions completing the minimum mandatory core digital inclusion training during 2025/2026. This is modular training available online which can be completed in stages and takes around four hours in total to complete.
Priority Criteria
Applications that meet the following criteria will be prioritised:
- Contribution to meeting the core outputs and outcomes of the programme (see below).
- The contribution the digital inclusion support will make to tackling health inequalities.
- Evidence based local need.
- Long-term sustainability of the project.
- Contribution to ensuring equity of access to digital inclusion across York and North Yorkshire.
- Deliverability within the timeframe of the programme (end of March 2026).
- Value for money.
Total value of the programme
£500,000
Amount of funding available for individual applications
- Up to £20,000 in total
- Capital grants up to £15,000
- Development grants up to £5,000
- Applicants can apply for either or both
- The minimum total grant available is £1,000.
Eligible Applicants
Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations; Public Sector bodies; and Primary Care providers
Open to Applications
14th May 2025
Deadline for applications
30th June 2025
Approval Process
Applications will be appraised by officers and then taken to a decision panel made up of representatives from the Public Health, NHS and VCSE sectors.
Delivery window
All capital grant funding must be spent by 31st December 2025
All development/revenue grant funding must be spent by 31st March 2026
All listed outputs and outcomes can be recorded up to 31st March 2026
Capital and Development Grants Available
There are two different grants available, but organisations can apply for either or both as part of the same application:
A) Capital grant (maximum £15,000)
B) Development grant (maximum £5,000)
The minimum total grant available is £1,000.
Capital Grant
Capital grants are available for up to £15,000 to support the development of digital inclusion provision through building adaptations and related digital equipment. Applicants will be expected to take a best value approach to the proposed procurement of any equipment.
Eligible expenditure includes:
- IT equipment required to deliver training e.g., laptops/tablets.
- Specialist equipment to support access for people with disabilities.
- Installation for broadband (excluding contract fees).
- Provision of sim cards with free data.
- Building adaption e.g., privacy screening.
- Promotional equipment and resources.
Ineligible expenditure includes:
- External training costs as all necessary training is funded by the programme and provided free through UKSPF.
- Ongoing contract fees e.g. broadband.
- Maintenance of buildings.
Development Grant
Revenue funding of up to £5,000 is available for organisations to invest in set up costs of the digital hub. This funding is only available for help to establish the long-term infrastructure that will provide the skills and framework to deliver the project following the completion of the investment. Longer term revenue development costs post the end of March 2026 will not be supported.
Applications must clearly outline the need within the organisation for this funding and include a sustainability plan post April 2026.
Eligible expenditure includes:
- Broadband set up and data costs where there is a clear long term sustainable plan for the project in place.
- Staffing costs (Public Sector or VCSE) to project manage the implementation, for example volunteer recruitment, and/or coordination and hub development.
- Event and expenses related to the development of hubs e.g., engagement events.
- Volunteer expenses
Ineligible expenditure includes:
- Staffing costs for any other purpose than outlined above.
- General expenditure of the organisation.
Any costs that do not relate to the development of digital hubs.
Support for your application
Get support from Digital Inclusion Project Co-ordinators
There may be scenarios where organisations are permitted to make more than one application for very different projects. Please speak to one of the Digital Inclusion Project Co-ordinators wish to explore this option.
Previous UKSPF funded Digital Inclusion projects are eligible to apply for funding but only for the development of new projects. Funding for the continuation of an existing project is not eligible.
The minimum grants will be £1,000. Support may still be available or projects requiring less than £1,000 and an email as an expression of interest for this support can be made by providing details of your project to one of the Digital Inclusion Project Co-ordinators.
Organisations can provide digital support in many ways. If you have an idea or proposal but are unsure whether it meets the criteria for this programme, please contact one of the Digital Inclusion Project Co-ordinators.
Digital Inclusion Project Co-ordinators:
North Yorkshire (excluding City of York): michael.fletcher@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk
City of York: jane.granville@yorkcvs.org.uk
Additional Requirements for Applicants
All applicants will be required to explain how their project delivers positive outcomes in respect of protecting the environment and reducing carbon emissions. Guidance can be found here: Routemap to Carbon Negative
All applicants will be required to explain how they have ensured no discrimination will occur in respect of the legally protected characteristics identified in the Equalities Act 2010.
If successful applicants are procuring any external organisations to deliver any element of this project, they should undertake a transparent process which provides best value and delivers the quality standards required of your project. Applicants will be asked to outline their approach. Projects should demonstrate value for money, referencing any amounts of match funding applicants have secured or are intending to secure.
All projects will be required to complete an evaluation which outlines the delivery of identified outputs and outcomes, as well as a broader assessment of the success of the project delivery and what might have been improved.
All capital grant funding must be spent by 31st December 2025.
All development/revenue grant funding must be spent by 31st March 2026.
All listed outputs and outcomes can be recorded up to 31st March 2026
Funding for capital grants and development grants will be paid up front, but all organisations will be required to provide evidence of spending, in line with their approved application and funding agreement. Funding will not be payable for any activity undertaken after 31 March 2026.
Training for Digital Champions
A programme of training will be provided to support the development of digital champions.
This will include mandatory digital essentials training that all digital champions must complete. This is modular based training which takes up to four hours to complete.
Digital essentials training will equip the digital champion with everything they will need to enable them to support someone to confidently take their first steps online.
Wrap around training will be available to equip the digital champion with other vital skills needed to support someone including coaching, safeguarding and mental health awareness.
Bespoke training will equip the digital champion with the ability to adapt to individual needs as they are presented, for example use of adaptive equipment.
A Digital Inclusion Project Co-ordinator will liaise with all successful applicants to ensure they have access to the appropriate training they have identified.
For previous UKSPF Digital Inclusion projects: Previous applicants can continue to be supported and have access to the training programme. The Digital Inclusion Project Co-Ordinators will also consider requests for any bespoke training organisations may require.
Programme Outputs and Outcomes
Each organisation will be required to outline the programme outputs and outcomes they will achieve through their project in their application. Organisations will be monitored on a quarterly basis against these outputs and outcomes.
All outputs and outcomes must be achieved by 31st March 2026. Final monitoring reports will be submitted by 11th April 2026.
The programme overall aims to deliver against the following:
Programme Outputs and Outcomes
Number of organisations receiving grants from the Digital Inclusion Programme
Number of Digital Champions trained (Number of people who have received the mandatory training provided through this programme)
Number of people supported by digital champions
How to apply
All interested applicants are encouraged to contact the programme coordinator to discuss their application before submission.
Applicants should complete the entire application form. If any assistance is required to complete the form, please contact:
North Yorkshire (excluding City of York): michael.fletcher@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk
City of York: jane.granville@yorkcvs.org.uk
If grant funding is awarded, the content of this completed application form will form the basis of an agreement between the successful organisation and North Yorkshire Council who are administering the programme on behalf of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.
All funding received should be used solely for the purposes of the grant and for the activities outlined within this application. Any variation from these activities will require the written agreement.
We are hosting two webinars with the opportunity to ask questions about the programme.
You can book your place on one of these session using the following links:
You can find the application form here:
Useful Documents
- Digital Inclusion Programme – Community First Yorkshire
- Digital Inclusion Action Plan: First Steps – GOV.UK
- York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority – Economic Framework
- York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority – Mayor’s Vision
- York and North Yorkshire Routemap to Carbon Negative
- Guide to Developing the Project Business Case – Chapter 2 outlines HM Treasury’s 5 Cases Methodology
- UK subsidy control regime: statutory guidance – GOV.UK