Digital inclusion has been an important aspect of Flourish’s work pre-2020 but the issue came to the fore as we entered the pandemic. Our response to COVID-19 has shaped the way we approach digital inclusion and continually evolves as we enter new periods of post-pandemic life.
During the pandemic, we changed from an open access vocational day centre model to a service providing a broad range of activities in smaller, scheduled, groups across the city and online. New activity included digital literacy as a survey showed 76% of our members were digitally excluded. Further investigation revealed that people with severe mental illness are much more likely to experience social isolation and loneliness than the general population yet very few of our members would think of looking online for support and friendship. Through our loaning of tablets/tech we discovered that providing digital devices and data contracts was of limited use without significant staff support. When support was provided, the impact on skills, confidence, self-esteem and attitudes towards technology changed dramatically.
We have now finished our first year of our national lottery community funded project, My Journey, which includes our digital inclusion work. We have focused on monthly digital drop-ins (9 members) and digital skills share sessions (15 members across 40 attendances) to help members with the tech they have (or we have loaned) and to learn new skills and digital literacy. Towards the end of the year, we found that the interest and attendance of members in digital inclusion sessions began to wane. We have seen this parallel with the opening up of more social spaces and less reliance on online connection like zoom. With all things we do in Flourish House, we continue to learn and adapt. Now entering our second year, we have reflected on how we might improve our work, meet people where they are at and adapt our sessions to interest those who are in need of digital literacy but may feel they don’t need it anymore. We are having a consultation with members that hopefully will enlighten and guide the direction of our digital support.
Here is what some members have said about their experience of digital inclusion support over the past year:
“I have been interested in learning more about tablets and computers but hadn’t found a way to do this till coming to Flourish where I’ve borrowed a tablet and had one to one lessons. The one to ones have been fairly useful though I struggle to retain things so would like to book more to refresh my memory.– DM
“I think I’ve participated quite a lot, I’ve done a lot of Canva and I’ve led a couple of digital skill shares on spreadsheets, Canva and day trip planning. I’ve also done a couple of digital 1:1s.
I helped redesign the membership application form. It helps me keep in touch with Flourish as it gives me tasks I can do from home. Canva is more or less all I do in here. I do In The Flo and posters for different units, I’ve actually taught people how to use Canva, even staff members!” – ZW