(L-to-R, above: Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Councillor Anne Handley; Leader of Hull City Council, Councillor Mike Ross; KCOM’s Community Impact Partner, Louise Babych; Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, Luke Campbell MBE)
A digital inclusion tool which aims to help people to access digital services is now being rolled out across Hull.
Designed for front-line staff to use alongside residents and service users, Hull and East Riding Progress Online helps identify the practical support people need to get online and build confidence, whether that’s accessing council services, improving digital skills, finding affordable connectivity or making the most of everyday opportunities online.
The tool, which is already being used by East Riding Council, has been extended to cover the Hull area and will now be used by Hull City Council to help residents benefit from online services.
Progress Online includes a series of questions which helps the user to work out what support they need to be able to use digital services.
This can be training they may need, locations of public computers if they don’t have one or tools and support to make digital services easier to use.
It can be used by residents or their family members or by front-line staff helping them.
The project brings together Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council with colleagues from across the NHS, JobCentre Plus, VCSE organisations and local businesses.
The roll-out of the tool is funded by Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority (HEYCA), with Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council also contributing resource and delivery capacity to support its development and implementation.
This follows an earlier £10,000 grant to Hull City Council from KCOM’s Digital Inclusion scheme, which has enabled the initial development phase.
The directory brings together a host of ways for people to get the help they need.
This includes accessing a free data sim, a low-cost device, or finding skills training.
With the easy-to-use questionnaire, residents will get personalised results based on their location and interests.
The resources include:
- Drop-in sessions at community locations and libraries
- Practical ‘how to’ courses, such as using a smartphone
- Online learning and face to face training
- Low-cost social tariffs and free data SIMs for people who can’t afford to get online
- Places with free computers and Wi Fi
- Advice on staying safe online
The Leader of Hull City Council, Councillor Mike Ross, said:
“With so much happening online now, it’s really important that our residents have the skills they need to use the internet with confidence. Digital knowhow can benefit their lives in so many ways, including accessing useful council services such as their rent account or finding out when their bins will be collected. I’m really pleased that we’re able to work right across East Yorkshire to build this, as we look to make sure that no-one in our part of the world is left behind in this digital age.”
Councillor Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council said:
“The world is now so digital, with many things that you can only apply to do if you are online and computer literate. Helping our residents to get the training and support they need to use digital services confidently is vital to ensure they don’t miss out. This is also a great example of us working with the voluntary sector and partner organisations to ensure we give the best opportunities to our residents.”
Jan Collins, MD of KCOM Enterprise said:
“In an increasingly digital world it’s incredibly important that people across our region have the skills and access to thrive online. We’re excited to partner with Hull City Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority to create this fantastic resource that will open up so many online opportunities for local people. As well as delivering the UK’s most reliable broadband, we’re giving people the essential tools they need to make the most of it.”
Luke Campbell MBE, Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority said:
“There’s no point talking about good jobs, better skills and more opportunities if people are locked out before they’ve even started because they can’t get online. Not everyone has a laptop at home, spare money for data or somebody there to show them what to do. That’s why we’ve put Combined Authority funding into rolling Progress Online out across Hull and East Yorkshire. Better connections aren’t just about roads, buses and rail – they’re also about making sure people can access the skills, jobs, services and support that are there for them. It’s simple, practical and useful. It removes a real barrier and helps give people a fair shot. That’s what I want devolution to be about – using the powers and money we have to make everyday life better for people here.”
In the East Riding, the tool has been used by more than 1,000 people already for everything from basic computer literacy courses to filling in job applications.
Progress Online is now live in Hull with resources available to help residents, with more new facilities being added over the next few months as the tool moves towards full functionality.
Access Hull and East Riding Progress Online via https://hey.progressonline.hoopd.co.uk/.
You can also email for further details via progressonline@hoopd.co.uk.