The UK government is urging local councils and charities to help more people get online through a new £9.5 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund. The initiative aims to tackle digital
inequality, boost economic growth, and improve living standards as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
The funding will support projects that help people gain essential digital skills, such as workshops to familiarize them with technology, as well as schemes to provide devices like laptops and smartphones to those without access to the online world.
Local delivery across the UK
The fund will be administered in partnership with the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, leveraging local knowledge and expertise to ensure the money reaches communities that need it most. Local charities, councils, and other organizations will be able to apply for grants ranging from £25,000 to £500,000 to implement digital inclusion initiatives in their areas.
Digital exclusion remains a major barrier in the UK. Research indicates that 7.9 million adults lack basic digital skills, while 1.6 million people live entirely offline. Those without online access often face higher costs for essentials such as insurance, travel, and food—sometimes paying up to 25% more than online consumers—and miss out on key opportunities for work and education.
Government commitment
The Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund follows the IT Reuse for Good charter, launched in June, which encourages organizations to donate devices to digitally excluded individuals.
UK Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:
“It is unacceptable that in 2025, millions of people across the UK simply can’t access the vast opportunities that technology and the online world offers. Digital inclusion is an essential for modern life and work, not just something that’s nice to have, and it forms a critical part of our Plan for Change.
Making technology widely accessible could be the thing that means a sick patient can speak to a GP remotely, or that helps a young person successfully apply for a job. Through this funding we’re moving further to empower local leaders and groups nationwide, who are already working tirelessly to get their communities connected and change countless lives for the better”.
Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, said:
“For over a decade, Wales has led the way in digital inclusion, and our Digital Strategy for Wales makes clear our aim to ensure everyone who chooses to can engage safely and with confidence with digital.
Being digitally included means having the basic digital skills and tools needed for everyday life – from accessing vital services and applying for jobs to staying connected with friends and family.
This new funding from the UK government will build on the progress we’ve made, helping to further our lead and support the aim to support people to meet the minimum digital living standard”.
Local innovation for wider impact
The fund focuses on local organizations because they best understand their communities’ needs. Successful projects could serve as models to be expanded nationwide, ensuring innovative solutions reach more people across the UK.
The initiative is part of the government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan, published earlier this year, which outlines steps to tackle digital exclusion and enable all citizens to benefit from technology. By supporting digital skills development, the fund will help people access jobs, healthcare services, and government tools, contributing to economic growth and higher living standards under the Plan for Change. Photo by Rock1997, Wikimedia commons.