Key information
Decision type: Assistant Director
Reference code: ADD2081
Date signed:
Decision by: Amanda Coyle, Interim Assistant Director, Health and Communities
Executive summary
The Mi Wifi pilot is a ‘proof of concept’ project that will test how effective lending wifi-enabled devices (tablets) through libraries or community centres is at reducing digital exclusion among specific groups of Londoners (older Londoners, disadvantaged Londoners, Londoners with a disability and community groups). It will also see if the provision of basic digital skills training and knowledge of local support, alongside internet access, encourages sustainable and beneficial online activity.
The pilot will run in one or more London boroughs with high digital exclusion rates. It is aimed at those who have no access to the internet and are lacking basic digital skills which can often compound economic disadvantage and social isolation in these groups.
Decision
That the Assistant Director of Heath and Communities approves up to £50,000 for the delivery of the Mi Wifi digital inclusion project including:
• £10,000 in 2016-17
• £40,000 in 2017-18
Part 1: Non-confidential facts and advice
1.1. Digital inclusion is more than just getting people online, it is about transforming lives, particularly for those groups most excluded. In 2016, 6% of London households did not have access to the internet, 7.2% of Londoners had ‘never used the internet’ and 16% did not have basic digital skills. There is no single reason for people being digitally excluded but the main reasons tend to include:
• A lack of interest in the internet & digital (59%),
• A belief they lack the skills to go online (21%) and
• The cost of equipment (9%) .
This project aims to address these barriers through the provision of a wifi enabled tablet, borrowed from a local library or community centre. Participants will also be able to access basic digital skills support to learn how to get online and the benefits of being online if they stay online.
This project will target groups with high digital exclusion rates across one or more London boroughs with high rates of digital exclusion including: older Londoners (+55); Londoners from disadvantaged backgrounds (in social housing, in receipt of benefits or entitled to Job Seekers Allowance or Free School Meals) and Londoners with a disability (especially those who are housebound).
But it is not just individuals who are offline and not benefiting from digital access; 23% of small businesses and 58% of charities/community groups lack basic digital skills which will help them thrive. As such, this programme will also aim to support community groups who are currently not online.
In recognition of this emerging digital divide the GLA’s Digital Inclusion Strategy was launched in January 2015. It outlines why digital exclusion is a growing concern for particular groups in London and how the GLA can work with partners to address the barriers Londoners face to getting online. Sadiq confirmed his commitment to reducing digital exclusion in both his manifesto commitments and by highlighting digital inclusion’s relevance in A City for All Londoners.
In February 2016, the GLA became a signatory to the government’s Digital Inclusion Charter . The charter aims to reduce the number of people who are offline by 20% (nationally) every two years, so that by 2020 everyone who wants to be online is online. The GLA is committed to working towards this goal in London ensuring that all Londoners benefit from digital technology.
1.2. Mobile Wifi is increasingly considered the best channel through which to reduce digital exclusion. A recent evaluation of a Vodafone Mobile Devices project by the Good Things Foundation found:
- 88% of the people who took part in the project improved their digital skills during the project through their use of mobile technology, and their motivations for and use of the internet also changed dramatically.
- 78% of people who were loaned a tablet or smartphone said they found the interface more intuitive and easier to remember than that of a laptop or desktop, leading to changes in online behaviour and more regular use.
- 55% of those who were loaned a tablet or smartphone said they learned independently, as well as using their devices out and about at a range of venues including community and day centres, social clubs, and friends’ and family members’ homes.
- 70% of people felt that mobile wifi had cost advantages for them over fixed broadband.
- For people experiencing severe social exclusion and disadvantage mobile internet was shown to enable people to better self-manage their health, leading to greater independence and wellbeing.
The Mi Wifi project is a unique opportunity for the GLA to practically support the reduction of digital exclusion for some of London’s most vulnerable groups and develop a pilot, modelled on the successful Leeds Library wifi-enabled device lending project , for delivering wifi to those most in need. A model that can be replicated or scaled up across London’s borough libraries/community centres if proved successful.
2.1. The main objective of this programme is to test if:
• Lending wifi enabled devices (tablets) is a successful route to reducing digital exclusion among specific groups of Londoners.
• If community groups can be successfully digital upskilled and empowered to deliver for their communities in a more efficient, cost effective way.
• If providing basic digital skills training and information on local digital support options is elemental to successfully getting people to stay online.
2.2. Outputs and Outcomes
The main outputs and outcomes for the Mi Wifi pilot are outlined in this section:
Outputs
i. A minimum of 70 tablets are lent, via borough libraries or other community centres
a. 60 tablets are lent to individuals from the following groups:
- older Londoners (55+),
- Londoners from disadvantaged backgrounds (in receipt of benefit or income support, JSA in social housing, pupils entitled to on FSM, etc.)
- Londoners with a disability (especially those who are housebound via library-at-home services or equivalent service);
b. 10 tablets are lent to individuals from local community groups that need support to build digital capacity in their organisation.
ii. A robust evidence base is created, based on the evaluation to either prove or disprove the concept of this pilot.
Outcomes
iii. Internet access – all participants are competent and confident enough to access the internet from a tablet.
iv. Basic Digital Skills: All participants gain a basic level of digital skills by completing the basic digital skills course (including how to keep themselves and their data safe whilst online).
v. Knowledge of support available: All participants know where to access local support to stay online (through local digital skills support mapping and signposting).
vi. Positive Impact: All participants report a positive impact on their lives as a result of participating in this pilot, measured through qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis during the life of the programme and the evaluation phase.
vii. Empowering Community Groups: Community groups understand the benefits of being digitally enabled for the work they do to support their communities.
In London, in 2016 …
One in four Londoners who have a disability
One in ten ethnically Black/African/Caribbean/Black British or Indian Londoners
One in ten women in London
One in four economically inactive Londoners
One in six 60-64 year olds
…. have ‘never used the internet’; and
One in four in the C2DE do not have basic digital skills
This pilot is specifically targeted at groups with the highest rates of digital exclusion and reflects the intersectionality of disadvantage .i.e. many of the participants will be suffering from multiple disadvantage: unemployed, with a disability and socio-economically disadvantaged. Being offline can cost an individual up to £744 per year as well as reducing their chances of employment or connecting to others, thus compounding disadvantage and social isolation further.
a) links to Mayoral strategies and priorities
Mayoral Commitments
Digital Inclusion: Implement a digital inclusion strategy, led by the new Chief Digital Officer, to ensure that everyone in London, including older Londoners, have the skills, and online access they need to access public services, job opportunities and information.
A City for All Londoners
Social Mobility & Social Integration: “Social integration is an important priority that cuts across all policy areas. If we are to achieve it, we need to tackle inequality. We need to build strong communities, and enable all Londoners to actively participate in the life of the city, and in the decisions that affect them. ”
Community Engagement: “I will work with communities and civil society groups across London to encourage active participation in community and civic life.”
b) Key risks and issues:
c) impact assessments and consultations.
Consultations on the best type of delivery methodology have taken place with
- Doteveryone (formerly Go On)
- Google
- Facebook
- Leeds Library
- Good Things (formerly Tinder Foundation)
- Libraries Taskforce, Department of Culture
- EPBU Digital Skills team
Approval is being sought for expenditure of up to £50,000 over two financial years. £10,000 will be spent in 2016-17 and will be funded from the Minor Programme Budget in Communities and Intelligence Directorate. A further £40,000 in 2017-18 to be met from the Health and Communities Unit’s 2017-18 budget.
6.1 Delivery Model – the key elements of the project model are described below.
Participants, who meet the eligibility criteria, are enrolled from clear referral paths in participating boroughs.
The wifi enabled devices are purchased, set up and loaned through libraries or community centres
Marketing of project in pre-delivery period takes place to ensure sufficient interest from referral partners and prospective participants.
Mandatory basic digital skills sessions are delivered to every participant for a minimum of six hours covering the identified basic digital skills needed.
Robust monitoring is undertaken and embedded within the pilot delivery model to support successful project delivery and a robust evaluation.
Digital Skills Support Map and signposting processes established to support participants on their learning journey.
Design the evaluation of the pilot to assess i) the project model, ii) the cost-benefit of the pilot and iii) the impact on participants’ lives, in collaboration with GLA Intelligence.
6.2 Deliverables: The key deliverables for this project are outlined in the following section:
i. Identify referral pathways to the programme and enrol individuals and community groups
ii. Lend and maintain mobile wifi enabled devices (tablets)
iii. Device maintenance, security and data-wiping
iv. Provide Basic Digital Skills training
v. Provide Digital Skills Support Map
vi. Programme administration, management and delivery
vii. Ensuring Data security
viii. Monitoring and reporting
ix. Collecting and management of all additional evaluation data
x. Self-evaluation
xi. Sustainability plan
Signed decision document
ADD2081 Mi Wifi