An endeavor to narrow the digital skills disparity in Halton, a Cheshire borough where nearly 40% of the population exhibits limited digital proficiency, is set to provide hundreds of residents with complimentary tablets, internet connectivity, and comprehensive training.
This collaborative initiative, steered by the Liverpool City Region, seeks to mitigate the digital divide that exists within Halton. Over the course of the upcoming year, a total of 500 tablets, supplemented by training sessions and mobile internet access, will be allocated to selected recipients.
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram stressed that a considerable portion of the borough’s populace was grappling with digital exclusion, a challenge that detrimentally impacts their potential prospects.
The implementation of this scheme is a component of a larger five-year project that involves cooperative efforts between local councils, voluntary organizations, and private enterprises, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The expansive scope of this initiative encompasses beyond Halton, with an additional 4,250 tablets slated for distribution throughout the broader Liverpool City Region. This region encompasses not only Halton but also other Merseyside boroughs such as Knowsley, St Helens, Wirral, Sefton, and Liverpool.
Lloyds Banking Group’s 2022 Essential Digital Skills Survey has contributed data indicating that approximately 37% of Halton residents grapple with “low or very low” levels of digital proficiency. This data underscores the urgency and relevance of efforts to enhance digital competencies within the community.
