During the initial phase of the COVID-19 crisis and the first countrywide lockdown, Ageing Better Groups paused all face-to-face activity. The programme’s community development workers, or “Network Enablers”, encouraged and supported groups to move activity online and utilise the transition fund to prevent social isolation. However, it soon became apparent that digital exclusion was an issue for members in some of the groups that were attempting to adapt activity to maintain social interaction during this challenging time.

To better understand groups’ challenges when migrating online, Ageing Better in Birmingham set up a test and learn project, trialling different approaches such as peer learning to increase digital access and skills amongst participants, and to gain a better understanding of what activities work well online.

This report specifies the learning about this and includes case studies from the programme.

Micro funding to enable digital inclusion