Our Projects and Schemes
We deliver a number of digital sessions within the community, partnering with local organisations and groups. These sessions are either open or closed community sessions, depending on the partner we are working with.
The Community Wi-Fi Feasibility project was delivered in partnership with the borough, city and district councils across most of Kent. The project aimed explore the feasibility of expanding the existing public sector network into residential areas to provide free Wi-Fi.
The Connectivity Access Scheme has been established to supply residents that meet the eligibility criteria with access to connectivity. This is currently with a data SIM card from the National Databank (from the Good Things Foundation) or a Wi-Fi voucher.
Find out more about this scheme and make a referral
In addition, we have attracted partner funding to support the delivery of the scheme (linked below).
Digital Kent, funded by the Helping Hands Scheme, have a small allocation of £30,000 funding available for up to 50 primary schools (excluding private schools) to apply for one-off funding to support the delivery of a weekly digital after school club that lasts six weeks, reaching around 1,000 Kent children.
We have one of the largest networks of digital champion volunteers from organisations, businesses and the community to support our ambition to charge up the digital skills of our communities across Kent.
Find out more about the Network and Join
Our volunteer Digital Champions also support the delivery of a number of other projects (linked below).
Find out about Digital Hubs Find out about Digital Support Scheme Find out about Community Sessions
Following the positive interest of a pilot project we supported to improve virtual work experience - we're developing the Digital Employability Experience project. The project aims to upskill residents aged 13 and over and promote local businesses in Kent by providing an online platform to showcase local employers and develop employability skills.
Our Digital Hubs are spaces where residents can go to get support from one of our team or one of our Digital Champions. To get digital support and learn new digital skills, residents can book onto one of the sessions being held in a Hub.
Find out more about our Hubs or book onto a session
We have attracted partner funding to support the delivery of the scheme (linked below).
We are developing a Kent Digital Inclusion & Capability Strategy, endorsed by Kent County Council's Policy and Resources Cabinet Committee. The Strategy aims to position the local authority as a leader in this space, championing inclusion and linking the strategy to corporate policies and enable other partners to work within the framework of the develop strategy.
We are developing a Device Loaning Scheme for public sector, education settings, charities and voluntary and community groups to deliver services, where purchasing the equipment could be a barrier or evaluated as not value for money.
Our Device Recycling Scheme provides residents, businesses, charities and other organisations an easy, secure and cost-effective way to dispose of their unwanted IT equipment and assets, whilst minimising the impact on the environment, with a zero-landfill policy.
The Digital Support Scheme provides another route for residents to access digital support and skills (in addition to Digital Hubs). Residents can contact us on 03000 410 950 to be matched with one of our Digital Champions. Professionals can refer someone to us by using the ReferKent system.
Find out more about Digital Support Scheme
In addition, we have attracted partner funding to support the delivery of the scheme (linked below).
Our Engagement & Support team deliver a number of digital engagement, skills and support projects and initiatives across the county. Our team have been split to cover certain areas of Kent & Medway.
We delivered the Folkestone ERDF project in early 2023. The project was part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), part of the European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF), through Folkestone Community Works (FCW).
The Hardware Access Scheme has been established to supply residents that meet the eligibility criteria with access to digital equipment (currently laptops). The Hardware Access Scheme will 'gift' the device to the intended beneficiary, with no requirements to return the device.
Find out more about this scheme and make a referral
Due to the success of this scheme, we've attracted partner funding to either support the delivery of the scheme or replicate the scheme (linked below).
Find out about the NHS Integrated Programme Find out about the Tonbridge & Malling project
We've been supported by NHS Kent & Medway (ICB) to support GP practices and their NHS patients tacking digital inequalities.
Find out more about how we are doing this
This integrated programme supports the delivery of our other projects and initiatives (linked below).
Find out about Digital Hubs Find out about Digital Support Scheme
Find out about Hardware Access Scheme Find out about Connectivity Access Scheme
The Social Connectivity project in Kent started in November 2021 and was managed by two Kent County Council teams - the Digital Inclusion & Capabilities team and the Broadband team. The work now sits with Kent County Council's Broadband team as part of business as usual. The project created and promotes a toolkit for district councils and housing associations to use to ensure all of Kent's residents have access to gigabit fibre broadband.
We have put together information and delivered an awareness campaign to enable people in need to access cheaper broadband deals. Broadband providers are making discounted broadband packages available which could save eligible households about £200 per year.
We are being funded by Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council - using funding from the Business Rates Retention Pilot Programme and UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) - to deliver digital inclusion support for Tonbridge & Malling residents.
