Making connections: Community-led action on data poverty - Researched and written by Rosa Robinson, Patricia J Lucas, Ellie Cripps for Local Trust ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Making
connections:
Community-led
action on data
poverty
Researched and written by Rosa Robinson, Patricia J Lucas, Ellie Cripps
for Local Trust
July 2021
1
About this report
Local Trust commissioned this research to better
understand what data poverty is, how it manifests and how
people in communities are responding to it. The research
was overseen by an advisory group of organisations
working on or interested in this issue, to help provide
expert knowledge, guidance and insight whilst ensuring a
collaborative approach.
About Local Trust
Local Trust is a place-based funder supporting communities
to transform and improve their lives and the places they live.
We believe there is a need to put more power, resources and
decision making into the hands of communities.
About the authors
•R
osa Robinson is a social researcher whose work
addresses a range of social inequalities. She is director
of Frame Collective CIC, a not-for-profit company
specialising in people-centred research, creative
engagement and inclusive innovation around health and
social inequalities.
• Patricia Lucas is an independent social researcher interested
in child health inequalities and evidence for policy.
•E
llie Cripps is an engagement specialist, increasing
participation and involvement in research and developing
more inclusive research practices. She is a director at
Frame Collective CIC.
Author acknowledgments
We would like to thank everyone who took part in this
research and generously contributed their time and insights.
We could not have produced this report without your help
– thank you. We are also grateful for contributions and
connections shared by the our advisory group members –
the Good Things Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Foundation,
Carnegie UK Trust, Operation WiFi Campaign Alliance,
APLE Collective, Community Organisers, KeyRing, and End
Data Poverty. Finally, we want to thank Georgie Burr and
Ellie Pope at Local Trust for their collaboration and support
throughout this project.
Local Trust is registered in England and Wales, charity
number 1147511, company number 07833396.
localtrust.org.uk
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International
License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-ncsa/4.0/
Front cover: Computers at Sale West community centre.
Photo credit: Benjamin Nwaneampeh
2
Contents
Executive summary 5
1. Introduction 8
2. Community action on data poverty 12
3. Community experiences 18
4. What supports or hinders community-led action? 24
5. Looking forward: What works, what is missing 34
6. Conclusions and next steps 37
7. References 40
Further information and inspiration 41
Making connections: Community-led action on data poverty 1
Foreword from the
Operation Wifi alliance
The way we live our lives has changed. Services we used to access
by phone, post or face to face now exist solely online. Contacting
your bank? Looking for a new job? Your best bet is online. Registering
to vote or buying bargains off eBay? Do it on the internet. Want to
Zoom a family member or stream the latest series everyone’s talking
about? You’ll need enough bandwidth to enjoy.
If you don’t have access to the internet, complex issue and revealing the limitations
you’re locked out of living life to the full. As a of what communities alone can do.
result, existing inequalities deepen, because
In our ‘new normal’, the need for data
nowadays you’ll find it difficult to get by
will continue to increase and the
without internet access. Where broadband
poverty that emerges from this should
isn’t an option, often because of the cost,
not be ignored. Progress is already
using mobile data can fill a gap. However,
being made, at a grassroots level
whilst data may seem more accessible
and within industry and government,
than being locked into unaffordable long-
but we know there is more to do.
term broadband contracts, it can also
end up incurring extra costs. Paying one Good Things Foundation Online Centres
off instalments and topping-up when you Network will continue to support thousands
need it most can very quickly become of grassroots organisations working to
very costly, leading to data poverty. tackle digital and social exclusion, while
their Data Poverty Lab is building on
The pandemic made it worse. In fact,
these emergency responses to develop
2.5 million people are behind on
sustainable solutions to end data poverty.
their broadband bills, with 700,000
Meanwhile, more than 100 organisations
people having fallen into debt on their
that form a part of the Operation WiFi
broadband bills during COVID. And as
campaign will continue to champion the
people retreated into their homes, and
creation of a national data bank, to collect
WhatsApp mutual aid groups sprung
donations from people with excess data
into existence, some neighbours became
and give it to those who need it most.
increasingly disconnected. As teaching
moved online, children without internet As we move out of lockdown, we are
access missed out on learning. committed to keeping data poverty on
the agenda, so those that can not get
Community groups were no longer
online don’t continue to be left out or
sustained in hubs, halls or libraries, and the
forgotten. We will continue to share best
public wifi these places provided was no
practice and champion the work of
longer available either. People who had
communities and organisations on the
previously been at the table no longer
front line to highlight their contributions
came to meetings; a lack of internet access
but also the support they need.
meant they could no longer participate.
This report is just the start, to better
Luckily, local knowledge made these
understand an issue that people in
groups well placed to identify and
communities across the country are
attempt to remedy data poverty, and
grappling with. We know there is much
through conversations with over 136
more to do, but invite you to find out about
community members from across the
what is already happening and help push
country, this research lifts the lid on
this conversation and issue forward.
what happened next. It reveals how
communities stepped in to help people
exposed to data poverty, taking on a
2
Our advisory group
Thank you to the advisory group for their time and
contributions to this research.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for 'left End Data Poverty seeks to ensure all
behind' neighbourhoods is a cross party can afford data for essential needs.
group of over 70 MPs and Peers. It will work towards this aim by raising
awareness through research to influence
The Group is committed to improving
policymakers and creating an online
social and economic outcomes for
hub which will bring together resources,
residents in communities that suffer from
ideas and news through their network
a combination of economic deprivation,
of broadband providers, academics,
poor connectivity, low levels of community
community groups etc.
engagement and a lack of community
spaces and places. data-poverty.org
appg-leftbehindneighbourhoods.org.uk
APLE Collective stand for addressing Frame CIC deliver people-centred
poverty with lived experience. They are a research and engagement. Starting
national collective of individuals with lived conversations that help people find
experience of poverty. They work together their voices, grow in confidence, build
with organisations that support us to take community, explore ideas and play active
positive action to eradicate poverty. roles in solving collective problems.
aplecollective.com framecollective.org.uk
Community Organisers aims to ignite Good Things Foundation is a social change
social action in communities, embed charity, working to close the UK's digital
community organising locally and divide so everyone benefits from digital. We
develop a network and sustainable future do this through partnership programmes
for neighbourhood community organising. and providing free support to hundreds
of community organisations, libraries and
corganisers.org.uk social enterprises across the UK - the Online
Centres network. Our work stretches across the
spectrum of digital inclusion for adults: digital
access, skills, confidence and online safety.
goodthingsfoundation.org
Making connections: Community-led action on data poverty 3
KeyRing focus on smashing barriers to #OperationWiFi is a growing alliance
wellbeing and independence through of over 100 organisations from across
connection, flexible support and skill- the public, private and voluntary sector,
building. making three ‘asks’ to ensure that the five
million people who are disconnected, due
keyring.org
to low income, can get online.
operationwifi.wordpress.com
JRF is an independent social change Starting Point Community Learning
organisation working to solve UK poverty Partnership is a Stockport based social
through research, policy, collaboration enterprise. We believe in a world where
and practical solutions to ensure everyone people have the opportunities to lead
has a good home, neighbourhood, living happy, healthier and fairer lives through
standards and prospects. informal learning and community action.
We focus on digital inclusion, addressing
jrf.org.uk
health inequalities and bringing people
together to benefit from common unity.
startpoint.org.uk
4Executive summary
The internet has become essential for accessing employment,
education, health and care services, shopping, and social
interactions – a reality exposed and embedded by the COVID-19
lockdowns. As a result, the new term ‘data poverty’ has emerged to
describe the inability to afford sufficient, private, and secure mobile
or broadband data for these essential needs (Lucas et al., 2020). This
definition recognises that poverty is the problem’s root cause.
Over the last year, awareness of data 2. Data affordability as a barrier to digital
poverty and the impact on some participation is not well understood.
people of not being able to afford Descriptions of digital inclusion
enough internet access has grown, and that emphasise motivation, skills or
communities, civil society, government confidence as the main barriers
and government have taken action. to going online hide data poverty
This research set out to understand within them. The related terms of data
how communities have responded to poverty, digital poverty, and digital
data poverty. We wanted to know how exclusion are used inconsistently
community groups have organised and interchangeably across sectors,
around data poverty and what helped causing confusion.
and hindered local action. We carried
3. Community groups were typically
out qualitative research between
addressing data poverty within other
March and May 2021, combining
activities related to digital exclusion,
stakeholder workshops, interviews, and
and most actions were device-led,
an online survey with respondents from
small-scale and short-term. Data were
across England. Community-led and
most often provided with devices
neighbourhood groups made up the
or training and comprised dongles,
largest part of the sample, along with
SIMs, MiFi routers, broadband access
housing providers, local and national
(including community broadband
charities. In this report, we describe the
projects), public wifi and information
breadth and variety of community action
about social tariffs. Understanding
and present the views and experiences of
data needs, identifying appropriate
those we spoke with. What we found:
data deals and supplying data were
1. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted challenging and time-consuming.
community action on data poverty.
4. Community action tended to focus on
Community groups felt compelled
digitally or socially excluded groups
to ensure that people could access
and people on low incomes. We
services and support or stay connected
cannot know whether existing schemes
as provision moved online and public
have reached those in greatest need of
wifi became unavailable. People said
data.
they had not previously recognised or
realised the extent of data poverty. 5. The visibility of digital exclusion
increased access to funding during
COVID-19 but didn’t always enable
effective action. Some funding
Making connections: Community-led action on data poverty 5eligibility criteria and conditions 11. T here is a limit to what community-
were prescriptive, and this limited or led action on data poverty can
prevented action on data poverty. achieve. However, community
6. There were limited opportunities for groups recognise that alleviating
project evaluation. Monitoring usually the symptoms and causes of data
focused on the number of devices poverty will require a coordinated
supplied or people supported. So we effort from civil society, government
know little about what works for whom and industry.
in which circumstances.
7. Organisations’ digital capacity varied What should
widely, and their knowledge and
experience affected the action they
happen next
could take. Some groups had to As data poverty became increasingly
upskill their members, while others had visible during COVID-19, communities,
dedicated roles to support digital work. civil society, government and industry
responded with programmes, funding
8. C
ommunity groups felt their work was
and initiatives to help the most vulnerable
more responsive to people’s needs
people to get online. And the shift to
when co-produced with community
digital, accelerated by the pandemic, is
members. At the same time, it was rare
here to stay.
for community members to have the
digital skills and knowledge needed As our reliance on the internet for services,
to understand the complex and information, education, work and social
interconnected issue of data poverty. connection increases, so does the need
for universal, affordable access to data.
9. Partnerships with external groups could
Action to reduce poverty overall is crucial
be transformative but also slowed the
to solving the problem, and specific
action and risked a loss of control.
action on data poverty is needed. Data
Successful partnerships were felt to be
poverty research is a new field, and there
those where all partners were willing to
is little evidence yet about what works to
share power and respect the diversity
reduce data poverty. However, we know
of partners’ knowledge and expertise.
there is unlikely to be a single solution
10. Community groups hoped to that will address all areas of data poverty.
continue supporting people to get Addressing the problem will require
online but were concerned about continued, concerted and coordinated
the sustainability of solutions. Groups action from civil society, government
felt they did not have the resources and industry. Community-led action
and technical expertise needed to will continue to be essential, but cross-
provide sustainable solutions. Still, they sector support must bolster it. We suggest
recognised that people’s data supply pragmatic next steps for communities,
would ‘fall off a cliff’ if their group or civil society, government and industry,
organisation could not keep them summarised below and in full at the end
connected. of this report.
6Community groups Government and industry
Community groups understand local During the pandemic, the government
context and needs, and can lobby for and industry responded to the newly
the right actions locally. Data poverty is a visible problem of data poverty with
new term and is neither well understood various programmes and initiatives to
nor supported with funding now. We help people access the internet. However,
recommend that community groups as services, information and socialising
continue to take time to listen and learn continue online, the need for large
from people with lived experience of data amounts of affordable data will increase.
poverty and understand what affordable, Government and industry will continue
sufficient data means for their members to be responsible for ensuring that this
before planning solutions. digital shift does not create a new group
of people left behind and disadvantaged
Community groups could:
because they cannot afford data.
1. Listen to the lived experiences Of people
Government and industry could:
experiencing poverty and data poverty
2. Think about prioritising specific 1. Make pricing less confusing
dimensions of data poverty and more transparent
3. Recognise there is no one-size- 2. Commission research to build
fits-all solution to data poverty the evidence on data poverty
4. C
onsider where partners can add value 3. Understand the minimum data
requirements of ‘digital by default’
5. P
lan how to evaluate what works
to tackle data poverty. 4. C
reate scalable, inclusive solutions
that do not deepen inequalities.
Civil society
The internet is as vital as other utilities like 2. Recognise that data poverty is an essential
gas, electricity and water. Recognising but distinct element of digital exclusion
this means changing how civil society that requires specific action and support
operates – charities should expect to be 3. Listen to voices with lived
running services digitally. This digital shift
experience of data poverty and
makes it imperative to check that everyone
engage in co-production
can afford the data they need to engage
in this way. We recommend that data 4. Identify options for data pooling/
poverty should be a consideration for every sharing at the community level
project and every event, and community 5. Commission or conduct evaluations
groups need support to do the same. of data poverty initiatives
Civil society could: 6. Lobby for action by government
and industry.
1. Support groups to identify appropriate
data options for their communities’ needs
Conclusions
Our research highlights that there is no cure- natives who cannot afford sufficient data. The
all for data poverty – but it does show that case studies featured in this report show how
an intimate understanding of who is affected some community groups have responded
and how must drive solutions to address this to this need and give pointers for what has
need. For example, those who need support worked for them.
will include the digitally excluded and digital
Making connections: Community-led action on data poverty 71. Introduction
In early 2021, Local Trust commissioned this research to understand
more about community-led action on data poverty. We recognise
that civil society, government and industry make larger-scale
responses to data poverty – this discovery research is focused on
community groups’ experiences. The study sought to understand
the work of grassroots groups, describe the actions they had taken
and consider what has helped and hindered communities from
responding to data poverty. While valuing community voices and
celebrating their contributions, the research also aimed to highlight
gaps in knowledge or action, particularly identifying actions that
community groups can not do. We hope this research will galvanise
support for community-led action, amplify the voices of community
groups, and inspire action on data poverty across the UK.
1.1 What is data poverty, and I’ve lived on my own for almost
what do we know about it? two years now...you’ve got to
pay for your wifi because, as sad as it
Lucas et al. (2020) define data poverty
sounds, it is essential, especially if you
as “those individuals, households or
communities who cannot afford sufficient,
live alone. I get about £340 a month
private and secure mobile or broadband in Universal Credit. I spend almost
data to meet their essential needs”. £100 on my phone and wifi, £37 on
my water bill and around £27 for my
At the heart of this definition is the
gas and electric. So, I’m left with
recognition that poverty lies behind data
poverty. Data poverty is a feature of not about £43 a week for food and
having enough money for all your needs. everything else.”
For example, those living on low incomes (First person quote taken from
cannot afford to pay for data or internet Lucas et al., 2021)
access (ONS 2019; Serafino). Prior research
by this team (Lucas et al., 2021) found that
more than 1 in 5 of those with a household Low access to contracts, shared internet
income of less than £20,000 a year were access, insecure housing and poor
experiencing data poverty. It means infrastructures also create data poverty.
regularly having to make hard choices Compounding this are low digital
about which essential needs to prioritise. and financial literacy, which reduces
people’s ability to identify and access
affordable options. Going online is
more costly for those who lack digital
literacy, according to Lloyds research.
Additionally, infrastructure is not equally
distributed – some neighbourhoods have
8a limited choice of providers. Together, increase people’s access to affordable
these factors mean that those who are data and lessen the immediate negative
socially disadvantaged are more likely to impact of data poverty. These actions are
experience data poverty. the focus of this report.
Local Trust’s pre-pandemic research 1.2 The impact of COVID-19
with OSCI (2019) highlighted that digital
exclusion is a defining feature of ‘left During the past year, communities have
behind’ communities. Wilson and Hopkins galvanised into action to get people online.
(2019, 11, pp. 563-583) and Blank et al. They recognise that society changed
(2018, 36, pp. 82-102) report that data during the pandemic period, and one of
poverty is one feature of digital exclusion, the most significant changes has been the
understood as a spectrum of digital access shift to digital. During COVID lockdowns,
that combines infrastructure, confidence, people have relied on access to the
skills and affordability. However, most work internet: 85 per cent of people use the
on affordability, to date, has addressed the internet to stay in touch with friends and
affordability of devices. The impact of the family, 80 per cent for entertainment and
affordability of data itself has only recently shopping, and 75 per cent for managing
become apparent. In early 2020, although their money online. Notably, 65 per cent
93 per cent of the UK population were of people experiencing data poverty
online, a quarter of those who had not need to go online to access essential
gone online in the past three months said it health and information services, 60 per
was too expensive (Lloyds Bank, 2020). In a cent for working, and 33 per cent to seek
previous survey of data poverty in Scotland employment (Lucas et al. 2021). A ‘digital
and Wales, eight out of 10 people had both by default’ approach now dominates
a broadband connection and a mobile public services, and this means that
phone contract, including data. Still, one in internet access is essential for some of the
10 people with mobile contracts regularly most vulnerable people. Many charities
ran out of data before the end of the and community groups have also moved
month (Lucas et al., 2021). services and communications online. These
changes create a greater demand for
Data poverty is one expression of poverty data, and people need more of it, putting
and exclusion. It follows that those actions more people at risk of data poverty. The
to reduce poverty and social disadvantage pandemic has amplified poverty and
will reduce the number experiencing exclusion and widened existing inequalities.
data poverty. However, grassroots activities Nesta research in 2021 found that at least
Making connections: Community-led action on data poverty 9a million adults across Scotland and Wales their involvement and identifying activities
are currently experiencing data poverty that were needed but missing or beyond the
(Lucas et al., 2021). scope of community action.
APLE Collective has gathered evidence Between March and May 2021, we
on lockdown’s impact on people combined desk research, an online survey,
experiencing poverty. It notes that the loss interviews and stakeholder workshops to
of shared access to computers and wifi in find community-led or community-level
schools, libraries and community hubs has projects and approaches addressing
severely limited access to the internet for data poverty. We sought variation in
some groups (Goldstraw et al., 2021). participants, including the experiences
and views from different sectors and
various roles within organisations. Our
I [did] not have wifi at home work was qualitative, and in this discovery
even before the lockdown. phase, we sought to understand how
[Therefore] I was unable to download communities respond to local people’s
data needs. We also wanted to find out
important documents at home while
what helps and hinders communities from
researching with my phone. This did
leading action on data poverty, which
not help me to manage my time connectivity issues communities cannot
efficiently. At the moment, the meet, and what communities believe are
lockdown has worsened the whole essential ingredients in projects successfully
situation because I cannot go out to addressing data poverty.
where I can connect to the network. I Our work-plan was developed together
can only send emails if I beg to be with Local Trust and with input from an
connected to someone’s wifi.” advisory group, comprising stakeholders
with expertise in data poverty and digital
(First person quote taken from Goldstraw,
inclusion. We recruited participants for both
Herrington, Skelton, Croft, Murinas,
the workshops and the survey through direct
Gratton, 2021) communication with Local Trust’s Big Local
partnerships, via Operation Wi-Fi Alliance
The Good Things Foundation also notes and the RAG, posts on Twitter and LinkedIn,
rising poverty’s impact on data poverty. our contacts in the sector, and snowball
For example, it reports Ofcom data (2020) recruitment. In total, 62 people took part
showing that almost one in five households in workshops or interviews, and 74 people
has struggled to afford their telecoms bills. completed the online survey.
Similarly, Citizens Advice (2021) says that We spoke to groups from all regions of
one in six broadband customers have England and some from Wales and Northern
found it hard to pay their bill. Ireland. Community-led and neighbourhood
groups made up the largest part of our
sample. Nearly half of those who took
part in workshops, interviews or the online
1.3 Approach and participants survey were from a community-led group
The primary aim of this research was to or organisation (for example, Big Local
understand the views and experiences partnership, mutual aid group, community
of groups and organisations involved in group). Our sample also included housing
community-level responses to data poverty. providers and other service providers, local
The secondary purpose was to understand and national charities, the health sector,
the role of community-led and grassroots and a representative from a telecoms
organisations in these actions, describing provider. The range of roles represented
10also demonstrates the breadth of our The people and groups who volunteered
sample. They include community residents, to participate in our research were self-
engagement staff, managers and selecting and more likely to be interested
coordinators, chairpersons and CEOs. It in data poverty, particularly those who
was apparent that the participants’ roles or came through our RAG contacts. Those
job titles were not always a good reflection who have not acted or feel the topic is
of the digital champion or facilitator role unproblematic were less likely to speak
they had adopted in the last year. In to us. The issues of overlapping terms
smaller groups and organisations, and and confusion about data poverty as a
among those newer to work in the digital distinct form of digital exclusion were also
space, people had done the work that challenging. We acknowledge that we
was needed or where they had the skills or could not always unpick these differences
networks to do it. in either workshops or the survey. We
tried to be clear about the focused aim
of this research, but digital inclusion and
1.4 Limitations of our approach data poverty are inextricably linked, and
responses often addressed broader and
While our sample successfully achieved
specific issues. As a result, it wasn’t always
reach and variation, we are careful to
possible to disentangle the place of data
note that it is not a generalisable sample.
poverty in the experiences reported to us.
Making connections: Community-led action on data poverty 112. Community action
on data poverty
We drew on previous research from Goldstraw et al. (2021), Good
Things Foundation (2020), Lucas et al. (2020 and 2021), workshop
discussions and responses to our survey. Then we started with a
simple typology of actions taken to reduce data poverty. Figure 1
summarises the survey responses and the proportion of respondents
who had acted within each category. In this typology, provision
of devices and data were the most common actions. However,
examining survey and workshop responses revealed a more
nuanced understanding, and a matrix of activities emerged. Most
often, groups were involved in more than one action, usually in
combination. Figure 2 shows this matrix and names the range of
actions within matrix domains.
Reducing the cost of
going onlne (e.g. help to
get a good deal)
12% Providing mobile data
(e.g. dongles, vouchers)
33%
Helping people access
Wifi (e.g. Wifi hotspots,
shared access)
20%
Providing broadband
access (e.g. community
broadband initiatives,
helping households to
Getting devices to
install broadband)
people (e.g. tablets,
8%
laptops, phones)
27%
Figure 1: Types of actions reported in the survey
12We found examples of community-level modest in scale. So, although our typology
action across the responses (see Sections includes some larger-scale responses, most
2.1 to 2.3). The community sometimes were micro-scale. Examples are projects
headed these projects, but they were in a single shelter or community centre,
often led by or in partnership with other distributing a handful of smartphones
organisations. Reflecting our focus on to those most in need, often working
community-led approaches, much of with a group of volunteers in a single
the work we heard about was local and neighbourhood.
HH
Broadband
Access to Wifi
HH MiFi
devices hotspots
Provision of MiFi
Devices Data
devices hotspots
Device
Dongles Advice
donation
& SIMs on deals
drives
Loan of
Consultation
devices
Champions Research Supporting
actions
Development Training Funding
Access to Lobbying/
experts Campaigning
Figure 2: Matrix of actions to reduce data poverty
Making connections: Community-led action on data poverty 132.1 Actions on data poverty collaborations between communities and
public services. The types of activities taken
For most communities, tackling data depended on the group or organisation’s
poverty was part of emergency response role and its perception of the community’s
during the pandemic: connectivity needs. In some cases, an
urgent need to provide continuity of
access to lifeline services and support
The closure of libraries and
prompted action.
community centres has meant
communities have had to take action
on data poverty.” A significant number [of clients]
Workshop participant didn’t have broadband...we
had to supply mobiles with data to
ensure people in addiction treatment
could get online. We were surprised
Actions targeting access to data
and affordability included support to how much data poverty there was,
individuals, households or communities. including people struggling to home-
For example, they gave mobile data school and work from home without
dongles or SIMs to individuals, MiFi routers access to the internet. And so many
or broadband access to families and could not access Universal Credit...so
homes, and set up wifi hotspots. There we had to buy the data out of our
were also community broadband projects own pockets because we could not
making it easier for households to sign up have people dying because they
for broadband (HartlePower, n.d. ). While
could not stay in touch with us.”
many projects bundled devices and data
(see below), some were data-only projects. Changing Lives
Community-led actions on data poverty
ranged from small-scale, self-funded
emergency responses to larger-scale
14In the context of emergency responses, people can access where they already
without time or resources to understand congregate, for example, centres providing
people’s specific needs, many free lunches. However, there are still issues
communities said they had to make to address around specific aspects of
informed guesses to provide solutions data poverty, such as security and privacy.
quickly. For example, people who cannot The group is unsure whether to require
afford data may not have access to an a password to access community wifi
appropriate device and people without hotspots or make it fully open but is aware
devices are unlikely to have access to that each choice has different implications.
data. Both were often deemed essential Many groups tried to find solutions to
parts of a solution. Groups tried a range enable people to access services and join
of different data solutions, frequently meetings through video calls. They often
changing tack once provision was up and shared MiFi devices to provide shared
running, and they understood more about mobile data access to groups of people
the support people needed. in supported housing or community
Goldstraw et al. (2021) report that public locations. In two cases, they used dongles
wifi points in libraries and other community to create portable hotspots that project
centres were lost when they closed during workers could take with them.
the pandemic. It was a more significant
A few people said they were helping
problem in communities that were also less
people find good deals and access low-
well-served by other resources.
cost options (for example, BT basic1) or
giving vouchers or subsidies to offset the
cost of purchasing data. However, helping
During lockdown, the only
people navigate the telecoms market for
venues where [wifi] access was this purpose was rare.
available, albeit limited, were closed
down, for example, libraries and
customer service centres...the lack of 2.2 Supporting actions
vision from a regeneration
Supporting actions were often important
perspective has left areas exposed components of data poverty responses.
and disproportionately Undertaking local consultation or
disadvantaged even further by the research activities to understand support
pandemic.” needs were essential precursors to
Survey respondent further efforts and involvements. Several
groups invested in research before
engaging with community members to
co-produce solutions based on people’s
Recognising this, some groups set up new lived experiences of data poverty. Other
public wifi in open locations (for example, communities tested solutions through pilot
in places of worship). Plaistow South Big schemes.
Local ran a pilot to address the lack of We heard both from larger organisations
internet access among homeless people providing funding and groups whose main
in the area. Many have devices already activity was finding or accessing funds for
but don’t have data. With the advice of a their local communities. In some cases, this
consultant, the group is now planning to took the form of infrastructure work:
buy two routers with unlimited data which
1
BT Basic is a low-cost package for people on benefits: https://www.bt.com/content/dam/bt/help/including-
you/BT_Basic.pdf
Making connections: Community-led action on data poverty 15We have formed a working [We’ve been] working with
group of stakeholders such as people who do not even know
Housing Associations to research how to switch a computer on. Helping
possible access provision.” them decide what device best suits
Survey respondent by lending them our devices,
teaching them the basics.”
Survey respondent
Others were doing research and
campaigning or lobbying for money or
action by others: Importantly, these skills and training activities
were not always at the level of the individual
community members. Groups also directed
We’re currently doing research them to other groups and organisations.
about digital exclusion across With the growing recognition of the need
the North. And we’re hoping that this to help community members get online,
is going to be something that can there was a realisation that groups and
influence policymakers to make the organisations also needed to grow their
digital skills and resources to support others:
changes and really recognise that
digital exclusion is a very broad and
complex area; it is not just as In terms of digital competence…
straightforward as giving people kit.” over the last 12 months we’ve
put in a training schedule for our staff,
Voluntary Organisations’
so we get everybody up to a
Network North East
benchmark of competence in terms of
their ability to use all these fantastic
different types of resources that are
We have been raising there and that we’re paying for.”
awareness of the issues and Northern Rights Social Enterprise
sharing/signposting to all available
current resources”
2.3 Action on devices
Survey respondent
Data poverty was often addressed in the
broader context of digital inclusion and
solutions primarily focused on providing
So, one of the things we became
devices, sometimes with data. The most
involved with is Operation WiFi... reported action across the workshops,
it is a national movement to help with interviews and survey was to loan or give
data poverty.” devices to individuals and households.
Devices distributed included smartphones,
Community Roots CIC
tablets and laptops.
Groups bought devices to give away or
Groups created various skills and training
loaned for a short period (device libraries)
activities to help individuals get online,
or medium-term (six to 12 months).
including identifying champions to Some groups focused on collecting and
encourage, answer their questions, help redistributing second-hand devices,
them develop essential digital skills, set up although these schemes also needed a
their kit and liaise with providers: partner who could clean and refurbish
16donated hardware. Some had a loan- Several organisations worked on digital
to-own arrangement, where they loaned exclusion before the pandemic and
tech for an agreed period, expecting that had existing programmes in place, like
most would be bought at a low cost at device loans and training, to help digitally
the end of the loan period. These devices excluded people get online. These were
sometimes came with training or support often adapted to meet changing needs
to use them. Often people were supporting throughout the pandemic. However, many
several individuals at a time: schemes became oversubscribed, and
others didn’t receive adequate funding:
We had some funding for
awards for our men’s groups to
provide them with tablets with data, Before lockdown, we knew there
which was great; they are an isolated was a real issue with access to
group of individuals. I’ve got another digital services…so we equipped our
tablet for a lady through 100% Digital centres with digital devices, provided
Leeds and [one] with data from the support to people with online
another pot of funding for an claims – helping people to find
individual, again that met a slightly employment and access tax credits.
different criteria, but it is not We were supported by a national
something across the board for charity, Leonard Cheshire, who has
everyone.” been a fantastic partner...but
unfortunately had a very limited
Feel Good Factor budget once COVID hit.”
Northern Rights Social Enterprise
Organisations realised they needed to find
permanent device solutions for people
they were supporting:
When groups provided data with devices,
it was usually time-limited (for the loan
duration or a fixed period). In the survey,
We’re running a tablet loan slightly more than half of those who
scheme…in reality [we’re] said they had provided mobile data or
extending that loan period, so we’re broadband connections said they also
absolutely not going to be taking offered devices. However, it was often not
clear what proportion of devices came
back a digital device that somebody
with data and vice versa. For example,
is using and hugely benefiting from,
Business in the Community told us about
and we’ve seen such incredible half the devices their business members
benefits from people being able to be provided to communities came with
online at this time. So, although it is a data package. We categorise these
technically called a loan scheme, we responses as ‘device first’. That is, the
extend those loans for as long as focus was on getting devices to people
people need, and we’ve linked in with without internet access. The aim of adding
a local, not for profit, who are data was to provide connectivity for the
refurbishing equipment. Through that, equipment rather than addressing data
affordability.
we’re able to provide permanent
solutions for people as well.”
Digital Brighton and Hove
Making connections: Community-led action on data poverty 173. Community
experiences
Through our workshops, community groups and organisations shared
their experiences of tackling data poverty. They described challenges
they faced and their decisions, often with limited knowledge, capacity
and resources. For many people we spoke to, the pandemic opened
their eyes to the extent of data poverty in their community and the
specific issue of affordability of data as a barrier to getting online.
Many could see the scale of the problem and were acutely aware of
the gaps that they could not fill.
[Before the pandemic] we Groups wanted to identify the people most
in need of support but were aware that the
always said that people had a
most disconnected were often hardest to
lack of motivation to go on online
reach and help:
because they didn’t think it was for
them. But what I’ve seen over the last
12 months is that the big issue is a It is challenges like giving
lack of sustained access due to the information out to our women...
unaffordability of data.” probably more than half of our
100% Digital Leeds members are very difficult to contact
because they haven’t got any data,
they haven’t got email addresses.”
3.1 Finding people most in need
Women’s Health in South Tyneside
Groups described feeling concerned
about people they usually saw Several groups told us they were
regularly but weren’t engaging since determined to keep people connected.
communications moved online: They resorted to socially distanced
analogue methods of communication,
such as doorstep visits and phone calls,
We had been working with large to communicate with them and let them
numbers of local people – over know about any digital and data support
3,000 – running coffee mornings, on offer:
etcetera., and many have just
disappeared since everything has I’ve actually been ringing people
moved online, so it is clear there is up in the community to see how
some issue, but we don’t know what we can reach them and support them
that is exactly and how much of it is to access data and to find out what
data poverty.” support they might need.”
Flintshire Disability Forum
Big Local Central Jarrow
18For groups used to working digitally, using We would love to do more, but
online methods of communication were
we are a very small board
most resource-efficient, but meant not
(eight members), and only one of the
reaching people in need:
board was able not to shield.”
Birchwood Big Local
We find it hard to reach people.
We know who they are and
where they are, but digital
communication is essential for us in With many organisations having limited
terms of affordability of time and knowledge of data poverty, people told us
it was difficult finding the most appropriate
resources.”
solutions and the best data deals,
Workshop participant balancing the quantity of data and price.
Often, accessing the best deals required
contracts, which smaller organisations
could not commit to. People also felt their
3.2 Capacity to act knowledge and experience affected the
action they could take:
People in community groups and
organisations were motivated to make
We are aware that as a very
whatever difference they could to help
people get online, even if digital inclusion small charity in a specific area,
or poverty alleviation were not part of their we don’t have a huge [number] of
organisation’s usual remit. Consequently, digital skills even within the
many lacked the knowledge, skills and organisation.”
resources they felt they needed to make
Home-Start Camden and Islington
‘the best’ choices. People described
finding this hugely frustrating and often
upsetting.
Capacity and resources varied across As a result, some sought support from
organisations. In some communities, telecoms businesses, which were providing
organisations had dedicated roles to pro bono support, such as BT.
support this work (often prompted by the
pandemic and looking at digital inclusion We’ve partnered with Good
broadly), such as at Carers Leeds,
Things Foundation, signed up as
whereas others were entirely volunteer-led.
a learning network [online centres
The capacity of organisations and the
circumstances of their members affected network member], and they have
the scale of action they took: provided us with a mentor from BT,
who has identified equipment – a
device and data – that we can use for
the pilots; the best cost for the best
data package.”
Big Local Central Jarrow
Making connections: Community-led action on data poverty 19Community example:
Gaunless Gateway Big Local
Gaunless Gateway Big Local, identified data poverty as being a
big problem for single men living in shared accommodation with
no broadband connection. The community group wanted to find
a solution and invested time asking the men what they would find
helpful – they said wifi hotspots around the local area, so that is where
we focused the action.
There [are] all the local places Community centres are the big
people will go, like churches thing that pops up for us. And
and community centres, and they going forward, we need to get the
could open up their wifi for government to change [its] views
community use, so we are and support more because they are
encouraging that. And we’re asking essential hubs. When people need to
private businesses to consider doing get to speak to doctors or do job
the same. The council has recently searches, they need those spaces
put wifi in for shops, so we are asking with free wifi.”
them if they could extend that for Community member, Gaunless Gateway
community use too.”
Community member, Gaunless Gateway
203.3 Understanding data needs 3.4 Data is difficult to provide
People described how they quickly Data was often problematic for local
realised that they needed to understand groups and organisations to supply.
how people used data and the data Groups told us they needed solutions
cost of different activities. COVID-19 that were easy to set up and manage
social distancing restrictions meant that and would meet people’s needs for an
solutions that got people online before the ongoing connection, even for the short
pandemic were no longer options, which term. However, identifying affordable,
created additional challenges: accessible solutions to meet people’s
data needs was complex. By comparison,
receiving and giving out devices was
Recently we’ve done a project simple:
where we’ve loaned tablets, but
we had to get over the problem of
portable wifi because you need to be We did a project with a local
together to use that and we could not charity which covers the whole
because of COVID. So, we used 4G of Huntingdonshire to get donated
enabled tablets on pay-as-you-go, but laptops for schools. We got 250
it was difficult to administer because donated laptops refurbished, and
data was running out at different some of them did come with data.
rates, and so we had to keep topping [The] main problem isn’t the
people up. We had a problem that equipment… I know it is awkward
depending on what people were finding money for equipment, but
doing; the data was going very [the] equipment is a relatively easy
quickly.” problem to solve; the issue is
connectivity and data.”
Search Newcastle
Ramsey Million Big Local
Sometimes organisations realised that their
services required high levels of data and As the pandemic progressed, people
that their digital offer and data provision needed ongoing support to stay
were not compatible: connected to the internet. But some
groups found data logistically challenging
to access and distribute, so they decided it
The issue I’m finding is that we was unmanageable to continue:
provide a MiFi device with some
data, 15G of data, yet our sessions are
It is hard to give data: who has
run on Zoom, and a Zoom session for
the contract, who’s responsible?
an hour can use anything from 1G to
It gets very convoluted and
2.4G depending on how many
complicated very quickly, so we’ve
people are in it.”
been giving people prepaid SIMs and
Leicester Ageing Together dongles and MiFi units along with
recycled laptops.”
SO18 Big Local
Making connections: Community-led action on data poverty 21We do not offer data as we have 3.5 No one-size-fits-all
found that the plans offered are Several groups also described how they
not transparent or appropriate for the had to spend time researching solutions
people we work alongside.” to address other barriers individuals were
facing, such as poor credit histories or lack
Digital Access West Yorkshire of access to a bank card:
A lot of people can not commit
We were getting our local
to a contract because of the
community online by
credit checks. So, it is finding data
distributing devices and data
that does not need to create a credit
(initially), but our organisation is too
check and that they don’t have to
small to be able to do it. It is too
commit to a monthly contract so they
complex, and there is too much
can dip in and out.”
admin, it is just difficult.”
Big Local Central Jarrow
Rochdale Community Action
Other smaller organisations were unable
to bulk-buy or negotiate contracts on Data is absolutely a challenge...
a larger scale. In addition, it created there is not a one-size-fits-
challenging and time-consuming set-ups everyone option...some people have
for individual provision in each household no option at all. We get a lot of
they supported, for example, where each referrals and signposting to our
SIM card required a different email address services from the local jobcentre...
or a complicated process to set up:
people saying that they can not
afford data. We are working with a
The way that the data was lady who does not have a bank card,
shared were these very long so she’s not going to be able to get
voucher[s], which would require access to the internet."
dexterity and remembering how to do Digital Brighton and Hove
things month and month...the more
you give out, the more problems you
have to troubleshoot.”
Phoenix Community Housing
223.6 Finding and using funding To maintain their provision, people
repeatedly applied for small pots of
Most organisations had secured or sought
funding. Sometimes, they applied for
funding to support them to act. Some
top-up funds when people used data
organisations had existing and unrestricted
faster than expected. In other cases,
funding in place (for example, Big Local
they accessed different funding pots
areas). They described the benefits of this
for different people, sometimes for one
flexibility, allowing them to choose how to
individual at a time. Many were successful
use their resources to support people in
in obtaining funding, but there were
their community who could not get online.
frustrations, including challenges for
They told us how it had allowed them to
community groups’ engagement with
take risks and react to need.
communities:
People felt that greater awareness of the
issue during the pandemic had allowed
them to access vital financial resources: Funding is not sustained. We
step in, create trust, and then we
have to take it away. Sustained
The pandemic has made the
access to the internet is key.”
issue visible, so it is an
opportunity to raise awareness and Workshop participant
secure support...funders and
policymakers have a greater
appreciation now.” There are pockets of funding
Workshop participant with the likes of the Carers
Association, through the Prince’s Trust
But funder priorities and restrictions for young people, and pockets of
sometimes affected the action they could funding for people with learning
take. For example, several people could disabilities. But my problem with all of
not distribute data as part of their funding this is if you don’t fit a certain box, or
agreement: you don’t fit in that criteria, there is an
awful lot of people out there that are
really isolated and not getting the
We can get a SIM card that they
required support that they need.”
can put into whatever device
they’re using, but we’ve come across Northern Rights Social Enterprise
all sorts of problems trying to do that.
It is really difficult to give, in effect,
money. It is difficult to give data to
people without providing them with
the devices as well, and it is very
difficult to find funding to get
devices...so it is been a bit of a
challenge over the last year.”
Women’s Health in South Tyneside
Making connections: Community-led action on data poverty 234. What supports or
hinders community-
led action?
Community groups and organisations discussed the factors they felt
supported or hindered efforts at addressing data poverty, and we
found common threads among them. However, discussions at our
workshops also highlighted how context mattered: similar actions in
different circumstances could sometimes yield different results.
4.1 Digital capacity technical capacity. Without much previous
experience, people spent much time
Groups purchased and distributed devices setting up a few devices, which they
with data, but many discovered they did concluded would not be a sustainable or
not know how much data online activities scalable solution.
consumed, and therefore how much
data was likely to be enough. In addition,
identifying and supplying data was Some organisations recognised the need
complex and time consuming, and made to upskill their staff to support others – an
more challenging by a lack of information essential element of ongoing support
explaining data purchase options, that community groups need. But formal
schemes and tariffs. training was not the only solution. In several
workshop conversations, community
group members described how they
Local organisations with knowledge and received support and motivation from
experience of the data market – usually opportunities to meet others working
voluntary or public sector organisations on similar issues. During an emergency
focusing on digital inclusion – enabled response, when people focused on getting
some groups to identify support and their communities online as quickly as
advice to make informed choices about possible, they described feeling alone
their communities’ most appropriate data and aware of their limitations. There
packages. Support from volunteers with had been few opportunities to share
data expertise (often from the telecoms ideas, discuss common challenges and
or IT industries, according to COVID learn from others working elsewhere, so
Tech Support) was valuable when it was bringing people together in workshops or
available. A few groups also accessed events was valued highly. People felt that
pro bono consultancy support through peer learning and support would be an
telecoms provider initiatives, which guided important factor in future.
them towards devices and data options
appropriate for their specific needs
and circumstances. While helpful, the
advice didn’t always match the group’s
244.2 Co-production, community 4.3 Partnerships
embeddedness and community
volunteers Several groups described how taking a
partnership approach to addressing data
poverty had brought multiple benefits:
Several community-led interventions
to their organisation, to the project and,
built on the foundations of the lived
importantly, to the community. They said
experience of data poverty – through
collaborations had brought diverse
co-production and qualitative research
perspectives to the project, ensuring
approaches. Groups felt that this enabled
challenge and robust decision-making.
more profound understanding of the
Bringing people together around shared
problem’s dimensions and people’s
objectives enabled them to build a more
needs, which helped them shape more
coherent plan. It created momentum
responsive and tailored solutions. Also,
and visibility for the project and made
groups and organisations with established
the community voice more influential at a
and ongoing engagement with their
higher strategic level. Vitally, the groups and
communities were more able to identify
organisations who found collaborations
community segments to whom they
and partnerships helpful described
needed to listen.
how a coordinated approach reduced
duplication of effort, ensured greater
Many community-led initiatives relied on effectiveness and built the community’s
volunteer support, with volunteers from capacity to address data poverty.
private and public sectors supporting
community action. Volunteers provided
We also heard about less positive
enormous additional capacity for which
experiences, where partnerships
community groups and organisations were
lacked shared objectives and partners’
hugely grateful. However, finding volunteers
contributions were not valued equally.
with appropriate skills and knowledge was
People described how their group’s
often difficult.
goals were compromised or derailed
by a partner’s agenda – often caused
by a power imbalance exacerbated
by the community’s reliance on the
partnership for resources and funding.
Groups also said collaborations had
created unnecessary red tape that
slowed progress and limited effective
action. However, workshop participants
felt that composition, set-up, the group’s
willingness to share power and co-create
objectives, and recognising partners’
diverse knowledge and expertise about
the community were behind successful
partnerships.
Making connections: Community-led action on data poverty 25You can also read
