The Leeds Digital Inclusion Fund 2023

The Leeds Digital Inclusion Fund is a partnership between Leeds Community Foundation and Leeds City Council 100% Digital Leeds, and is funded by money raised from Leeds Digital Ball. The Fund supports Community Organisations to incorporate digital inclusion in their day-to-day work, in sustainable ways. 

In 2022, 27% of the UK population had low digital capability. This means they are likely to struggle interacting with online services and are at risk of being left behind and left out from society (UK Consumer Digital Index from Lloyds Bank). By supporting Community Organisations to embed digital inclusion work throughout what they do, the fund will mean people in Leeds will have the skills, support and equipment to be active online, now and in the future. 

In total, more than £85,000 was invested in 10 Community Organisations through the programme in the summer of 2023. The organisations that were awarded funding are: 

• • • • BID Services 
      • Burmantofts Senior Action CIO 

• • • • Complete Woman CIC 
      • Cross Gates & District Good Neighbours’ Scheme 
      • Holbeck Together 
      • In2Out 
      • Leeds Irish Health and Homes 

• • • • RETAS Leeds (Refugee Education and Training Advice Service) 
      • The Highrise Project 
      • Your Back Yard CIC 

These organisations will work to embed digital inclusion in a range of ways, including: 

• • • • Creating a digital skills hub to offer tailored digital inclusion sessions and walk-in support 
      • Purchasing tech equipment and increasing staff hours to deliver IT support sessions and 1:1 training 
      • Providing refurbished, secondhand smart phones for people leaving prison so they can access online services and resettle back into the community 
      • Securing a subscription, offering workshops and producing information resources for an on-demand interpretation service to support Deaf/hard of hearing individuals and British Sign Language users 

Throughout their year-long grants, these organisations will also benefit from support from 100% Digital Leeds. By the end of the year, these organisations will be set up to continue supporting people with digital inclusion for a long time to come. 

For more information on grants awarded, visit the What We’ve Funded page.