Preston residents who are priced out of internet connectivity and the devices needed to get online are set to benefit from a new scheme that aims to bridge the digital divide in the city.As part of the plans, public buildings could be used as wi-fi fibre hubs to provide very low cost – or even free – connectivity to nearby households.
The authors also warn of the knock-on effects of digital exclusion on almost all aspects of health, wellbeing and quality of life. The city council has agreed to spend £20,000 in each of 2023/24 and 2024/25 to procure an organisation that will be charged with establishing the Preston Digital Co-operative. A further £160,000 will then be provided as a grant to the new organisation in order to enable it to achieve its aims.
That study, undertaken by the Co-operative Broadband Network , found that there was a “high level of demand for support…which is likely to continue to rise”. “Digital access is essential for socialising, accessing public services, accessing education and employment, remote working and managing finances. This is particularly important for vulnerable groups such as rough sleepers and those who require mental health support in Preston. Therefore, digital poverty can push people into other forms of poverty,” the report warns.