Issue - meetings
Connecting Communities - Digital Inclusion
Meeting: 12/01/2022 - Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee (Item 6)
6 Connecting Communities - Digital Inclusion PDF 376 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Aelswith Frayne, (Head of Employment & Skills) presented the report.
The report sought a £50,000 financial contribution towards the Connecting Communities Digital Inclusion Programme.
It was noted that this was a partnership project (between the East End Community Foundation, Tower Hamlets Council, social housing provider Poplar Harca and education provider, the Letta Trust).
The project seeks to tackle digital exclusion through the provision of free digital devices and subsidised broadband connections to low-income households with primary school aged children.
The Sub – Committee were also advised of the following:
· Achievements to date. - the project has been delivering since June 2020. It has supported 240+ low-income families to-date in learning and access to job search, training, employment and social engagement resources, showing very positive results
· The longer term aims of the project.
· The fundraising activities to support the programme.
· Work with Housing Providers to engage them with the programme.
· Work with broadband providers, and their contributions to the project.
· Benefits of the project in terms significantly improving attainment at school level.
The Sub – Committee noted the questions submitted on behalf of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding the following:
· The proposals for the next phase of the programme – in terms of the targets. It was confirmed that overall the scheme sought to provide £10M in support
· The thresholds for support and the support for large families of children. It was confirmed that the families were selected by schools on the basis of free school meals.
The Committee discussed a number of issues as set out below:
The Committee welcomed this project, including the involvement of the Housing Associations in the process. It was requested that the project Steering Group should look at ways of pursuing the project and should continue to work to lobby for the provision of free broadband.
RESOLVED:
1. Note the contents of the report and the outcomes of the Connecting Communities Digital Inclusion project outcomes to-date.
2. To approve a grant of £50k from the Mayor’s Priority Reserve to the Connecting Communities Digital Inclusion.