Digital Inclusion Programme

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.

Successful Digital Inclusion Programme Applicants

31 projects were successful in applying for funding from the Digital Inclusion Programme.

We anticipate this will help create nearly 200 digital champions for the region who will then go on to assist over 6000 people with digital skills.

Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust

Amount Awarded: £5,520.00

Project Description: Empowering Housing Association Communities Through Digital Champions: Building a Support Network led by Residents

Connecting Our City - City of York Council

Amount Awarded: £11,745.37

Project Description: Enhancing digital inclusion in York’s mental health hubs, providing skills, devices, and support to reduce inequalities and enhance access to care and wellbeing

The PCC of St Clements Church, York

Amount Awarded: £6,620.00

Project description: Combining the proven skills and passions of Community Connect Internet cafe and The Collective Sharehouse community food support to build community digital capacity in Micklegate

Community Furniture Sore (York) Ltd

Amount Awarded: £20,000.00

Project Description: Expanding IT ReUse into a digital support hub combining device provision, volunteer training, and 1-1 digital skills support to work towards a digitally inclusive city

Low Bentham Public Hall and Victoria Institute

Amount Awarded: £3,799.00

Project Description: Offering digital support to the Bentham community and its surrounding population

Sight Support Ryedale

Amount Awarded: £19,000.00

Project Description: Sight Support Ryedale provides tailored support to visually impaired individuals in Ryedale, aiming to reduce isolation and enhance health and wellbeing

Age UK North Yorkshire Coast and Moors

Amount Awarded: £19,996.70

Project Description: Pilot loan scheme, wearable tech, a package including education enabling people to be more proactive about preventative health measures

Hambleton Community Action

Amount Awarded: £16,480.00

Project Description: Leveraging the expansion of the Talking Newspaper and the digital switchover to increase digital inclusion and promote engagement through a diverse range of devices

 

North Yorkshire Citizens Advice & Law Centre

Amount Awarded: £17,400.00

Project Description: CHIPS (Community Help & Information Points) will provide access to remote one-to-one advice in collaboration with community partners in Filey, Grassington, Hawes, Helmsley, Masham and Tadcaster

Sherburn and Villages Community Trust

Amount Awarded: £7,100.00

Project Description: Volunteer led drop-in sessions to support people getting online and navigating the internet. Free sessions to learn new digital skills in a relaxed, friendly setting

Saint Catherine's Hospice

Amount Awarded: £19,000.00

Project Description: Empowering people with life limiting illnesses, bereavement, and those supporting them, through digital upskilling and access to essential tools and services in a trusted setting

Aphasia Support

Amount Awarded: £19,552.97

Project Description: Supporting between 45 and 90 people with aphasia in North Yorkshire to speak with confidence through digital solutions

The Place in Settle

Amount Awarded: £6,256.00

Project Description: Growing the hub, offering personal support in all digital aspects, accessible free hub including access to WWW, printing. Building local expertise, support and cooperation 

Scotton Village Hall

Amount Awarded: £1,800.00

Project Description: A digital hub providing internet access, skills support, youth activities, and cultural events – enhancing inclusion, wellbeing, and opportunity for five neighbouring rural North Yorkshire villages

Refugee Action York (RAY)

Amount Awarded: £19,099.00 

Project Description: Empowering refugees and asylum seekers through tailored digital support embedded in community hubs/weekly sessions, enabling confident access to health, education, benefits and essential online services

North Yorkshire Libraries

Amount Awarded: £9,984.00

Project Description: A pilot project offering in-home IT support and instruction, delivered by library staff and volunteers to users of our home library service

Tadcaster and Selby Rural Primary Care Network

Amount Awarded: £8,709.80

Project Description: Bridging the digital divide and combating inequality by making technology accessible and empowering communities through inclusive digital initiatives

Revival North Yorkshire CiC

Amount Awarded: £14,103.78

Project Description: To improve the digital skills and confidence of participants living in the isolated rural area of the NY Moors and Esk Valley

NYBEP

Amount Awarded: £8,034.00

Project Description: The project will look to support SEND children with skill and confidence to use digital services safely. There will also be a focus on introducing young people and their families to Apprenticeship and Technical Education (ATE) to help their future employment prospects through sessions in schools 

Community Works

Amount Awarded: £13,815.12 

Project Description: A community-led partnership helping people of all ages build digital confidence, safety and skills that is future proof, sustainable and rooted in local community

SPARKS Project

Amount Awarded: £6,630.00

Project Description: SPARKS Hubs in Barrowcliff/ Eastfield plus popups are offering “Get connected” sessions for residents needing support to access online services, including benefits, GP’s and training

Yorkshire in Business Ltd

Amount Awarded: £15,852.00

Project Description: ‘The IT Space’ located in Scarborough’s Castle Ward providing digital support training and IT access

Whitby Town Shed

Amount Awarded: £2,815.00

Project Description: Being As One addresses hybrid gatherings of people in a regular venue with online incomers at home or elsewhere. Talking, doing, learning, sharing and belonging

Mind in Harrogate District

Amount Awarded: £3,610.00

Project Description: Workshops for secondary school students across Harrogate-district on social media, wellbeing, and healthy online relationships delivered by Mind in Harrogate District’s Young People Services Coordinator

Up for Yorkshire (working name for Selby District Association of Voluntary Service)

Amount Awarded: £16,050.00

Project Description: Targeted and tailored, inclusive digital support for vulnerable groups, designed to enable those facing the greatest barriers to access health and community support, training, employment 

MySight York

Amount Awarded: £13,338.00

Project Description: Helping blind and partially sighted people in York build digital skills and confidence through one-to-one support, tech loans, drop-ins, and peer mentoring

Thirsk Community Library, Meadowfields (TCL)

Amount Awarded: £8,885.00

Project Description: Expansion of Thirsk Digital Hub to provide outreach provision and new services in the library and local community along with new partners

WHISH - Whitby Hidden Impairments Support & Help

Amount Awarded: £4,384.00

Project Description: Free activities for parents, using taster activities for children, with a bIT of digital on the side. Digital Hub more equipment, training, volunteers

14th May 2025 Application window opens
20th May 2025
Daytime information webinar
29th May 2025
Evening information webinar
30th June 2025
Deadline for applications
July 2025
Feedback to applicants
December 2025
All Capital spend complete
31st March 2026
All delivery complete