£9.5 Million to Connect the UK

In 2025, being offline means more than missing out on social media — it can mean paying up to 25% more for essentials, struggling to access healthcare, or being cut off from job opportunities. Yet 1.6 million people in the UK have never used the internet, and 8 million lack basic digital skills.

On 13 August 2025, the Government launched the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund — a £9.5 million initiative to help local councils, charities, and research organisations deliver practical, community-led solutions that close this gap.

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The Fund at a Glance

• Grants: £25,000–£500,000 for eligible organisations in England
• Examples of projects: digital skills workshops, device lending schemes, outreach for hard-to-reach groups
• Devolved funding: Scotland (£764k), Wales (£400k), Northern Ireland (£267k)

This fund is part of the wider Digital Inclusion Action Plan, which sets out immediate priorities to:

1. Support local projects through this fund
2. Boost digital skills and confidence
3. Redistribute unused government laptops via the Digital Poverty Alliance
4. Make public services simpler and more accessible
5. Gather evidence to measure what works

The Action Plan focuses on five groups at greatest risk of exclusion: young people, older people, disabled people, those out of work, and low-income households.

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Why It Matters

Digital access has become essential for everything from managing finances to booking GP appointments. Without it, inequality widens. This fund aims to give communities the tools, skills, and confidence to take part fully in the digital world.

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A Positive Vision

Picture a UK where:

• A rural resident books medical appointments online with ease
• A single parent retrains from home and lands a new job
• A local business reaches customers nationwide through e-commerce

This isn’t just about getting people online — it’s about opening doors to opportunity, connection, and independence. By working with local organisations who know their communities best, the fund can make digital inclusion a reality for everyone.

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Apply Now

If you’re a local authority, charity, or community group in England with a plan to boost digital access, you can apply now via the GOV.UK Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund page.

Funding in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will be managed by devolved governments.