Bridging the Digital Divide: Empowering Communities Beyond Technology 

10 Oct 2024

We all hope that COVID-19 is in the rear-view mirror, but the pandemic has clearly had a lasting impact on many organisations. I witness the struggles of the private sector daily as they develop new ways to engage customers, provide services, and respond to the impact emerging technologies are having on their business. While this is a challenge for the private sector, many businesses receive support from organisations like Catalyst, Digital Catapult, Invest NI, Government and others to develop the necessary skills, research, innovation, and strategies to adapt to this new and rapidly changing world. Without such support, the private sector would struggle to evolve, grow, and, ultimately, some sectors would not survive. So why should we expect it be any different for the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector?

I have had the privilege of being involved with the sector for almost 30 years. During that time, the organisations I have worked with have been upskilled in leadership and governance, financial management, organisational development, and capacity building. The reality is that the community and voluntary sector critically requires digital support, resources, and training to effectively meet the needs of the communities it serves.

As Chair of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, I worked with fellow trustees, grantees, stakeholders, and partners to develop a new strategy to guide our work from 2023 to 2026. Through this process, we discovered our vision of “a fair and equitable society for everyone” supported by a resilient and sustainable VCSE sector. A fair and equitable society means fair access and opportunity. In a rapidly changing world, this translates to closing the digital divide. In turn, Digital Inclusion will have a profound impact on the social and economic advancement of Northern Ireland.

With the support of Comic Relief, CFNI commissioned the Bytes project, in partnership with Stats & Stories, to explore the digital skills and needs of the NI VCSE sector. The ‘Wired Up?’ report revealed that many VCSE organisations in Northern Ireland struggle with several barriers that prevent them from fully embracing digital technology and transformation. The three most common obstacles identified by participants in the study were:

• Poor Digital Skills (85.0% of participants): Many organisations lack the expertise and confidence to adopt digital technologies and strategies. This limits their ability to use technology to enhance services, communicate effectively with stakeholders, and reach more beneficiaries
• Lack of Funding and Affordability (82.3% of participants): The ongoing cost of internet data is a major concern for organisations working with limited budgets. These financial constraints make it difficult for them to maintain digital services, particularly in rural areas with limited digital infrastructure
• Limited Access to Devices (82.0% of participants): Many organisations have only mobile phones to work with, which restricts their capacity to handle digital tasks efficiently, such as managing data, delivering online services, or offering digital literacy training to their communities

A significant 87.0% of participants in the report agreed that investment is needed in devices, software, and support for staff to develop the necessary digital skills. Furthermore, only 36.8% of participants felt that their staff and volunteers had the digital skills needed to support those at risk of exclusion. By investing in training, VCSE organisations can empower their workforce to bridge the digital divide, offering better support to their beneficiaries, many of whom are already vulnerable to digital exclusion.

The ‘Wired Up?’ report was key to informing CFNI’s 2023-2026 strategy, with Digital Inclusion identified as crucial to delivering on our strategic priority of supporting communities, delivering equity, and improving the well-being of everyone we work with. We have committed and will continue to commit our resources to advocating for a digital strategy for Northern Ireland, a new approach to digital infrastructure, and improved digital support and workforce development for the VCSE sector. This investment is crucial for organisations to build their digital capacity, improve service delivery, and remain resilient in an increasingly digital world.

To address the VCSE sector’s needs, CFNI has launched a Digital Inclusion Fund, aiming to raise £1 million to support social leadership and digital innovation in the VCSE sector. I call on businesses, philanthropists, and government leaders to make strategic investments that will enable the sector to navigate the digital age and continue delivering vital services to vulnerable communities.

In January 2025, I will assume the role of Innovation Commissioner, working with Innovation City Belfast to drive innovation, attract investment, and position Belfast as a globally relevant innovation hub. Innovation City Belfast (ICB) is a partnership established by the leaders of Belfast’s key institutions, including Belfast City Council, Belfast Harbour, Belfast Metropolitan College, Catalyst, Queen’s University Belfast, and Ulster University. With Invest NI as an advisory partner, an ICB priority is to ensure that Belfast’s innovation investments support inclusive economic growth, deliver good jobs, and have a sustainable, positive impact on the people of Belfast and the wider region. This is at a time when an overall investment of £1 billion is available through the Belfast Region City Deal in research and innovation hubs, including advanced technology centres and digital infrastructure. There is a focus on sectors such as life and health sciences, digital technology, advanced manufacturing, and NetZero technology.

Now is the optimal time for the development of a Digital Strategy for NI, as recommended in the ‘Wired Up?’ report. Twenty-two percent of charities struggle with digital adoption, with key demographics at risk of digital exclusion, including older adults, low-income individuals, and people with disabilities. A strategy should outline clear goals for digital inclusion, identify priority areas for investment, and encourage collaboration between government, businesses, and civil society to close the digital divide.
CFNI has been establishing this collaborative approach through the commissioning of two additional reports during 2024, aiming to create a business plan for the first VCSE Digital Hub in Northern Ireland. If funding is secured, a hub will be established to support VCSE organisations in adopting a digital culture and preparing for a digital future by:

• Addressing financial and technical resource constraints
• Providing training to upskill staff and volunteers
• Enhancing cybersecurity to protect against online threats
• Promoting digital inclusion to ensure beneficiaries can access services

The current initiative is supported by a diverse group of organisations, including representatives from the private sector, the VCSE sector, and various government departments. I encourage potential collaborators to engage with the CFNI team if they can access or influence collaborative funding, policy, or resource requirements to support this critically important project.

In an era where technology drives most aspects of daily life, the community and voluntary sector in Northern Ireland faces significant challenges regarding digital inclusion. But Digital Inclusion is not just about technology; it is about creating a more equitable, prosperous, and inclusive society. By ensuring that everyone has access to digital tools and the confidence to use them, we can reduce societal inequality, drive inclusive economic growth, enhance educational opportunities, and promote civic engagement. It is critically important that governments, businesses, and civil society work together to close the digital divide and ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, can fully participate in and benefit from our increasingly digital world. The time for action is now. Through investment, collaboration, and innovation, the sector can overcome the digital divide and build a brighter, more inclusive future for all.