Compudoug Services Limited is an Online Centres Network Partner of Good Things Foundation and over the last year we have been involved in implementing targeted community projects aimed at increasing the UK digital footprint through a sustained delivery of digital devices and digital skills, hence improving the socio-economic well-being of individuals, progressively leading to better self-esteem and better employment opportunities.
Below are some of our projects!
Digital Lifeline.
What exactly is it?
It is an emergency response project getting devices, data and digital skills support to digitally excluded people with learning disabilities in England. It is funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and delivered by Good Things Foundation.
Without further ado, the project continues to go from strength to strength by helping to alienate the digital divide exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19 and hence significantly reducing the feeling of isolation.
Through the projects digital empowerment, a large number of people with learning disabilities now have the the ability to:
1. Access health services such as, learning how to book GP appointments online.
2. Access better family time by connecting in real time through video conferencing apps.
3. Reach new heights of self-esteem by acquiring digital skills through free online training.
Even though the areas mentioned above appear simplistic, the innovative element of the project addresses the significant overlap between digital exclusion & social inequality.
The configuration & delivery of these stylus assisted Lenovo M10 Tablets, packaged with free 24GB of Internet access was made seamless by our Data Architect Martins from our partner company, DBA Masters Technology.
Fig 1. A service user at Pathways Care Consortium receiving training after being issued a Lenovo M10 Tablet.
Fig 2. Further below right, is that of a service user at Maisoncare, Little Paddocks Clacton, reaping the benefits of being issued with a digital device. This is what her care giver had to say
"Thank you so much one very happy person"
Our project head, Lucien Taylor, coordinated and gathered progress at various stages to ensure we were within our operating parameters and of course gave the thumbs up when applicable to keep up the teams spirits!
A copy of our summary project report, written by Lucien Taylor can be accessed here as a PDF document
You can access some of our LinkedIn posts as follows:
Thank you....
To everyone who connected with our last piece on Digital Lifeline.
Today, JP Morgan Chase Foundation, Good Things Foundation & Compudoug Services Limited collectively embark on a new engagement titled Devices and Digital Skills: supporting those in need.
The project is aimed at digitally assisting low income earners experiencing difficulty in gaining unperturbed access to the Internet either through the lack of ownership of a suitable device or due to financial constraints in running long term access to the World Wide Web.
Ultimately, it is envisaged that by providing these resources, beneficiaries can seamlessly up skill and hence have a fruitful relationship with longer lasting gainful employment and thus improved financial health.
As our logistics team exit from the beneficiary distribution phase, encouraging signs indicate that training and support will be paramount as device recipients interrogate us on how and when digital skills training will commence.
With 24GB of free internet data, spread over 24 months, coupled with 32GB of expansion cards per device, beneficiaries have access to a 10inch Tablet device from Lenovo as depicted in this posts' caption.
Once again, thank you for your continued support and encouragement as the inspiration from JP Morgan Chase Foundation and Good Things Foundation continues to gather momentum....
Compudoug Services Limited built new relationships along the way in this latest project post COVID-19. The relationships allowed us to create new network affiliations which galvanised the identification and targeted deployment of digital devices to qualifying individuals in East London, UK.
The relationships created included those formed with:
- ELBA (East London Business Alliance)
- Charitas Anchor House
- True Ambassadors
- Moneyaande
- Newham African Caribbean Centre
Fig 3 shows Aaron, a resident of East London, in receipt of digital device. You can see the full publication on LinkedIn.
Fig 4 displays more recipients in the East of London, receiving their devices and looking forward to some IT training using a combination of instructor led classes via Zoom ¦ Teams and a couple of websites at https://learnmyway.com & https://makeitclick.learnmyway.com
Fig 5 is ELBA (East London Business Alliance) accommodating us by taking their delivery for all their 18+ individuals involved in their employment programme
Fig 6 shows David of the Newham African Caribbean Resource Centre in East London after accepting their delivery of Lenovo M10 Tablets.
On-going IT training is now taking place, covering subjects including Build A Business, a targeted 37 module session that empowers individuals with ideas, confidence, management etc on running a business.
The National Databank, created with Virgin Media O2 and supported by Vodafone and Three, is now active in 1000 locations across the UK.
The text below references the extract, from Good Things Foundation website as it intricately details The National Databank project.
Compudoug Services Limited (a network partner of Good Things Foundation) had the opportunity to distribute a large number of Three and Vodafone SIMS to individuals who needed connectivity for job interviews, booking doctor appointments and even creating their CV's.
The project had no monetary contract value for all network partners but was more focussed on community work dedicated to improving societal needs.
Our volunteers progressively set up all SIM modules by activating the various network cards in our own devices followed by creating relevant user accounts for recipients of the SIM cards.
Once complete, recipients were contacted and delivery arranged either through personal deliveries or through the post.
Following on, all support requests were honoured through successful resolution.
Content from Good Things Foundation website: Dubbed ‘a food bank for connectivity data’, the National Databank, launched July 2021 by founders Virgin Media O2 and Good Things Foundation, supported by Vodafone and Three, is now providing support to 1000 National Databank Hubs across the UK.
The first cross-sector collaboration of its kind in the world, the National Databank allows registered grassroots organisations within the National Digital Inclusion Network to become National Databank Hubs, providing free SIMS and mobile data (as well as talk minutes and texts) to residents and vulnerable people in need.
According to Ofcom, there are 2 million households struggling to afford internet access in the UK today, and Lloyds Banking Group report that 10 million adults lack the most basic digital skills. Access to the internet has become an essential utility. Digital exclusion means being unable to participate full in today’s society, with barriers to accessing healthcare and managing finances. The National Databank aims to tackle the burden of the cost of living crisis, helping families across the UK stay connected.
1000th National Databank
To help people in need stay connected, Virgin Media O2 and Good Things Foundation have opened the 1000th National Databank Hub, part of the National Digital Inclusion Network, at Summit Learning Trust in Birmingham.
Vince Green, CEO of Summit Learning Trust says:
“Summit Learning Trust is proud to be joining 999 other databank hubs around the UK who are working tirelessly to ensure families can access free mobile data and receive the vital support they need. With a network of around 8,000 learners at Summit Learning Trust, across Birmingham and Solihull, we are perfectly positioned to support our community in this way and continue the work that Good Things Foundation and Virgin Media O2 are doing. The support we’re now able to provide will be invaluable for families in our region who risk losing connection with their community and loved ones without this support with their mobile data.”
The milestone comes as the Greater Manchester Databank, part of the National Databank, distributed 20,000 SIMs to eligible residents in need via 100 National Databank Hubs earlier this month.
Since the National Databank was launched in July 2021, it has distributed 159,000 free SIM cards. The number of Databank Hubs will continue to grow, and applications are open to organisations that could distribute free data to people that they support.
At the end of last year, Virgin Media O2 brought the National Databank to the High Street for the first time, trialling the initiative at 10 O2 stores over the Christmas season.
Demand for the National Databank is increasing, with its website receiving over 80% more visits in 2023 compared to this time last year as people search for help to stay connected during the cost-of-living crisis.
Helen Milner OBE, Group CEO, Good Things Foundation, said:
“By reaching the important milestone of opening the 1,000 National Databank Hub – against the backdrop of the cost of living crisis – Good Things Foundation and Virgin Media’s National Databank, with support from Vodafone and data from Three, is tackling digital exclusion through the combined offer of devices, data and digital skills support.
With 1 in 20 UK households having no home internet access, collectively we all need to do more to help the most vulnerable people in our society connect with digital.
This underpins our 2022-2025 strategy, asking for more ambitious and far-reaching change as we scale up and expand our work in the UK. Together, we can fix the digital divide – for good.”
Nicola Green, Chief Communications and Corporate Affairs Officer at Virgin Media O2 said:
“With 1,000 National Databank Hubs now available across the UK, there’s more help for people in need than ever before so they can get online and stay connected to loved ones. As proud founders of the National Databank, Virgin Media O2 has committed more than 61 million GB of O2 data to help people get free data, texts and calls so they and their families can access essential websites, study and work from home, and keep in touch with their friends and family.”
Nicki Lyons, UK Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer, Vodafone said:
“We’ve put tackling digital exclusion at the heart of Vodafone with our everyone connected campaign: we will help four million people cross the digital divide by 2025 by providing free connectivity, affordable products and services and digital skills training to businesses and communities.
Reaching 1,000 Databank Hubs is an important milestone – and a great way to provide connectivity to grass roots organisations who can have an immediate impact in the communities where they work. Such collaboration is a brilliant example of how, together, we can break down the barriers causing data poverty in the UK once and for all.”
We’re delighted to celebrate this milestone with our partners – especially right now as the cost-of-living crisis is putting strains on people’s finances. The databank means that more people will be able to stay connected during this difficult time.
How to join the National Databank:
If you’re an organisation that would like to start giving out free data to the people you support – simply follow these steps:
- Join the National Digital Inclusion Network (if not already a member). Joining is free and gives access to support, resources and networking opportunities
- The National Databank form is located on the application page
- Applications are open at all times and organisations are on-boarded monthly
- There are monthly Q&A sessions for organisations who have any questions
- A map showing your nearest National Databank Hub can be found here
- Databank recipients can access up to 40GB data a month and free calls and texts.
Good Things Foundation Digital For All!
We spent our day at the Charity called YOUR PLACE (formerly Charitas Anchor house) where we joined and networked with other community providers who were there to support the residents.
Taking over the IT room, we were able to provide some IT training on the day and managed to generate a smile on the face of one of the residents as we taught her how to create her own CV!
See Figures 9 & 10 (located on the left hand pane)
Furthermore, we created a network of beneficiaries of FREE SIM cards from Vodafone, Three and O2 loaded with up to 30GB of data.
These cards are designed to enable recipients to connect digitally hence acquire access to numerous online services including shopping, browsing, carrying out educational assignments & reaching out and engaging with their communities.
We ended the day with a photo with Community Partnerships Manager, David Williams (see figure 11 on the left hand pane)
The development of our partnership agreement is now at an advanced stage.
Our Team Members.
From Left, Lucien (Volunteer - Project Director and Report Management), Martins (Partner - DBA Masters Technology), Megan and Connor (Volunteer - Tablet Deployment Team), Elaine (Company Secretary) and Margarida (Advertising, PR and Branding)
