March 2026 network meet-up: A farewell to Helen Milner OBE

This network meetup served as a tribute to the collective impact of digital inclusion work across the UK as the network bid farewell to founding CEO Helen Milner OBE.

Ahead of her retirement, Helen Milner OBE shared reflections on her journey since founding Good Things Foundation in 2011.

The event featured a series of breakout rooms and discussion where hubs shared "WOW” moments and key achievements as well as hopes for the future. We heard about:

The life-changing impact of connectivity

• Restoring essential connections: Providing SIM cards and data has acted as a lifeline for people in crisis, enabling the homeless and vulnerable to secure housing, apply for benefits, and contact emergency services.
• Overcoming isolation: Digital tools have reunited families, such as an 82-year-old woman connecting with her son in Canada and an 80-year-old man finally being able to video call his worried relatives.
• Empowering independence: Users who previously thought "laptops were only for professionals" are now adept at email, and others have gained the confidence to trace biological family members or manage household finances after a bereavement.
• Supporting education and employment: Students worried about failing GCSEs moved into cybersecurity qualifications, and individuals such as a former chef from Italy used donated laptops to gain employment.

Strategic successes and evolving hub services

• The power of the Databank & Device Bank: Hubs reported massive growth in support capacity; for example, a library increased SIM distribution from 300 to 785 annually.
• Adapting to crises: During the COVID-19 pandemic and periods of civil unrest, hubs provided vital internet access to those trapped in hotels or isolated at home, helping them find connections within lockdown rules.
• Innovative outreach: Services have expanded into hostels, food banks, and even home visits to resolve technical issues like "broken" machines that simply needed software updates.
• Embedding digital inclusion: Many organisations have now fully embedded digital inclusion into their core offerings, making it a seamless part of their support.

Growth and national influence

• Professional growth: Participation in the network has allowed hub leaders to develop professionally, with some even representing the network at House of Lords events.
• Building sustainable infrastructure: Hubs are increasingly focusing on holistic support, looking at how service users function in a digital world rather than just providing hardware.
• Continued collaboration: There was a strong desire for the return of in-person conferences to continue the peer-to-peer learning that has defined Helen Milner’s tenure.
• A lasting legacy: Under Helen's leadership, the network has grown to over 7,000 organisations, supporting 1.3 million people in the last three years alone.