Reflections from a Network Hub: Smartlyte - Get Families Talking

Why do we do what we do?

Everything is always about the learners. The communities. The volunteers. The families and more importantly the children.

As parents with children will assent, the early and constant use of the word 'Why?' will drive parents to distraction, but 'Why?' also provides the platform for patience and justification. These are the two key words which have played on repeat for us over the past year.

The challenges of being digitally excluded, for so many different reasons, remain. And yet an ever evolving digital world throws more challenges at those digitally excluded, slowly chipping away at the tiny bits of confidence they may have developed. From local bank branches closing, to their GPs and health systems going online, education and homework, working from home, and benefit changes, e-visas all online, and all whilst trying to stretch and balance their finances online. From seeing their further exclusion, our ‘Why’ has stayed constant.

How do we deliver digital inclusion support?

Our work as a Digital Inclusion Hub in the National Digital Inclusion Network has helped us to help the learners, the patients, the communities, volunteers and families. From addressing their whys and their challenges to the “Why can’t I?”, we have been enabled to help and support. As a Digital Inclusion Hub and a Databank Hub, our Databank Surgeries have helped patients to access and understand their health better online. It has helped them to change their "Why?" to a “How can I?”

Our Digital Health Champions have developed their own skills and confidence in supporting their communities to address the “How can I?” Their growing confidence has changed their parenting and relationships for the better, as they now better understand the risks and relentless dangers of the online world for their children.

Being a Digital Inclusion Hub has changed our thinking, as we constantly seek out innovative means to develop those we cannot engage, and building the capacity of those organisations who can. As Good Thing Foundation Ambassadors, sharing our best practice helps and develops other Hubs, and in turn raises further questions of ‘why’ and ‘how’ for us. More so, how can we shout louder to end digital exclusion? We're always challenging and seeking out help from corporate organisations, politicians and the media, mindful that corporate volunteers meeting our communities helps to raise understanding and aspiration for all involved. As have the many opportunities presented to speak at conferences, both online and offline.

Our ‘why’ has helped us to bring together innovative ways of working on national and local priorities, delivering financial and digital inclusion to improve adults’ numeracy skills through Multiply, blended with Essential Digital Skills.

Embracing change

We have welcomed AI into the lives of our learners, by developing learning content and resources to transform how we work. Again asking questions of ‘how?’ and ‘why?’ But also, where can AI take us and our communities next? How can we bridge the chasm of digital exclusion and the huge opportunities presented by AI? Maybe that and our questions of ‘how’ and ‘why’ are for AI to answer.