#ThroughTogether: Good Things Foundation - online benefits for everyone

Good Things Foundation wants to see everyone benefitting from the online world. With a mission to enable the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society to lead better lives with digital, they have supported over 3 million people in the UK to get online.

We spoke to Natasha Early, Partnerships Manager. “Our mission is to fix the digital divide. Currently 8.5 million adults don’t have essential skills to survive in the online world. 1.5 million don’t have a smartphone, tablet or laptop and 2.4 million households can’t afford their mobile phone contract. We hear from people that there is a real feeling of anxiety and isolation among those who see themselves as left behind by the online world, affecting everything from their mental wellbeing to their financial resilience.”

Recent research by the Foundation found that nearly half (45%) of people across Britain would find it harder to manage their household finances without the internet while four in 10 (42%) would find it tougher to pay their bills.

In London specifically, it’s estimated that 270,000 people don’t have internet access and 1.6 million Londoners don’t have the necessary skills to participate in a digital society and economy. In June 2022 the London Digital Inclusion Service Get Online London pilot was launched by Good Things Foundation with the aim of providing a common offer for community organizations across London and a target to reach 75,000 people at risk of digital exclusion.

The program is funded by the Greater London Authority and the London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI) through to 2025, to reach and support digitally excluded Londoners with a blended offer of a device, mobile connectivity data, and basic digital skills support. Natasha described how Get Online London works.

“We have around 750 active community organizations in our London digital inclusion network. Through them, we have already reached almost 50,000 people with our range of services and offers. We grow the capacity of those community organizations to support digitally excluded Londoners, as well as providing devices and mobile connectivity to people who can’t afford it or don’t have access.”

An impact review at the end of March 2023 showed that 82% of those reached felt happier, more connected to family and friends after engaging with Get Online London and 100% felt more equal. People were able to use their new connectivity to find out about benefits they were entitled to, and even using their skills to get better work.

As the program continues, the challenge for Good Things Foundation is how to meet the demand that exists in London.

Natasha explained: “Many people who come to us through community organizations just cannot afford access to data, which speaks to the financial challenges that individuals are facing. Thanks to contributions from our National Databank partners Virgin Media, O2, Vodafone and Three, we have enough data in our Databank to support half a million people in the UK.”

“We also take donated tech from businesses and public sector organizations, refurbishing and redistributing them to people who need them. But we typically have five times more demand for devices than we can supply. We need more organizations to donate tech to our program.”

Before getting support from Clear Community Web, Liz was computer illiterate.

“Every time I had to sit at a computer, I would be sweating buckets. I would forget my password, I didn’t know what to log in to.”

At Christmas, Liz had a full hip replacement. After the surgery, she had a digital form to fill out, but unable to do it on her outdated phone, visited the library across the road for support, which is where she found Clear Community Web. While being supported in filling the form by the staff, Liz was informed of the other services they offer: courses, drop-ins, age-specific support.

Initially, Liz was hesitant about taking any courses, as she lacked a device, and was unable to afford one. Through Get Online London, Clear Community Web provided her with a device, enabling Liz to be able to take the course on basic digital skills.

Having access to this device has helped Liz to manage services online: Universal Credit, contacting the local council, managing appointments, search engines, accessing work and important meetings via Zoom.

With a device, Liz can further aid her development alongside the course by finding online tutorials, and support her emotional wellbeing by finding activities and events in her area for her age group and ethnicity.

“It’s been a lifeline for me. It’s built my confidence.”

Being provided with a device through Get Online London has significantly decreased Liz’s financial anxiety. She no longer needs to worry about the costs of a device and data, and that security aids in building her confidence with digital.

“What I would say to any organization that has any devices laying dormant, please donate it. Because there is someone out there who’s able to look at it, see what can be done, recycle and reuse that. That can be a potential laptop for somebody who doesn’t have a device to use.”