Community Foundation calls for Digital Strategy for Northern Ireland 

21 Nov 2022

The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is calling for a Digital Strategy for Northern Ireland to be brought forward.

The call was made at a breakfast launch of ‘Wired Up’, a report, commissioned by the Foundation assessing digital skills, inclusion and capacity in the Community, Voluntary, and Social Economy sectors.

(Click here for full report)

Speaking today at of the launch, Róisín Wood, CEO of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland stated:  
“One of the major learning outcomes of successive Covid 19 restrictions was to highlight the digital divide and digital poverty within the sector and communities.

“The Community Foundation, in conjunction with our grantees, conducted an initial study on Digital Needs and Digital Inclusion across Northern Ireland.

“It very quickly became clear that a deeper and wider report into digital needs and inclusion was required. As such the “Wired Up” report explored the current levels of digital skills and inclusion in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector. It brings forward four clear recommendations not least the need for a dedicated Digital Strategy for Northern Ireland.

“The publishing of this report is timely, and the fact that members of the public, private and community sectors are engaged at this launch is a fantastic first step. The need for a cross-sectoral approach to achieving the recommendations is crucial.

“If we are to become truly innovative, inclusive, and sustainable we need to lay out a clear and definitive strategy combining the delivery from the community and voluntary sector with the skills, expertise, and access to digital capabilities from the public and private sectors.

“This is a key area for any future Executive to tackle and the Community Foundation is calling for a Digital Strategy for Northern Ireland to allow all of our citizens to be able to access and benefit from the technologies and skills that for too many are currently out of reach.”