The Digital Poverty Alliance: Working Towards Ending Digital Exclusion

The Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) is on a mission to eradicate digital poverty in the United Kingdom and beyond. With around 11 million people in the UK still digitally excluded, the DPA recognizes that this digital divide hinders individuals’ access to education, employment opportunities, and essential services like online banking.

As part of their efforts, the DPA has formed a partnership with BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. BCS is dedicated to promoting digital skills and bridging the digital divide. Together, they aim to raise awareness about digital poverty and bring together businesses, government organizations, and public entities to support the cause.

To achieve their goal, the DPA has outlined a strategy that includes the creation of a new digital inclusion strategy for the UK, involving the public, private, and third sectors. The strategy also emphasizes the need to boost essential digital skills across society. Through initiatives like Tech4Families and Tech4Teachers, the DPA aims to support the millions of individuals who are currently digitally excluded.

The BCS, a professional body for IT professionals, is actively involved in addressing digital poverty. They provide digital apprenticeship’s end-point assessments, support school teachers through the Computing at School and Barefoot Computing programs, and facilitate discussions among companies, educators, and non-profit organizations through their Digital Skills Network.

The DPA and BCS’s partnership represents a collaborative effort to end digital poverty 2030. They urge businesses, government organizations, and public entities to support their work and help eliminate digital exclusion for good.

Digital poverty remains a pressing issue in the UK. Approximately 1.7 million households, or 6% of households, do not have home internet access. Furthermore, about 20% of adults, roughly 10 million individuals, lack essential digital skills. The DPA and BCS are committed to addressing these challenges and ensuring that everyone has equal access to digital skills, technology, and infrastructure.

The Digital Poverty Alliance is a non-profit charity member initiative that brings together individuals from various sectors, including business, government, charity, and education. Their aim is to create a national strategy to eradicate digital poverty in the UK and globally. Through collaboration and research, they work towards ensuring that no one is left behind in our increasingly digital world.

Sources:
– Digital Poverty Alliance
– BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT