ABOUT THE ORGANISATION

The mission of the Neighbourhood Project is to improve the social, economic, and environmental wellbeing of communities through self-help and social enterprise. In practice, this means working with local communities to develop new skills and put them into action – this has included food-growing projects, a car-sharing scheme, local history projects, and neighbourhood forums. The organisation was founded in Bradford, but has expanded to other sites in Yorkshire and beyond.

Neighbourhood Project also delivers digital skills support to older people, providing training and encouragement in the use of computers and the internet. The charity recognises that this digital literacy is now an essential skillset for day-to-day living, as  much as literacy and numeracy.

DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE

People aged 65 and above are far less likely to own a modern device, and are especially unlikely to own a touchscreen smart device. The tablets purchased with our grant enabled the Neighbourhood Project to lend them to community members as part of its free digital support service. 

Borrowing these devices allows people to practice skills, while developing familiarity and confidence so they can use such devices in the future – helping them to engage with statutory services or utility companies, and to keep in touch with family and friends.

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