Dickson Welcomes ‘Wired Up?’ Report Findings on Digital Exclusion

East Antrim Alliance MLA, Stewart Dickson, has welcomed a report published by the Community Foundation NI on digital exclusion in the voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.

Mr Dickson said: “The ‘Wired Up?’ survey makes for very interesting reading. The findings show that there is a wide variation in skills across the VCSE sector. With this said, for organisations across Northern Ireland, improving digital skills is a top priority.

“There is an obvious gap in free training, leaving many – particularly the elderly, people on low incomes, and people with disabilities – digitally excluded to some degree.

“The report even delves into the root causes for this digital exclusion, pointing to poor digital skills, unaffordability of data, and lack of digital devices, as key-culprit issues”.

Mr Dickson went on to say: “Without a functioning Executive, it is difficult to address the issues highlighted in this report. However, what is clear, is that a future Executive needs to develop a wide-ranging Digital Strategy, focusing on funding digital infrastructure and improving support for the VCSE sector. In order to achieve this, low-cost, or even free, training should be made accessible”.

Mr Dickson concluded by saying: “I fully back the findings of this report and am committed to ensuring that a future NI Executive delivers on it’s well thought out and considered recommendations”.

The report can be found here: https://communityfoundationni.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Wired-Up-Digital-Report-1.pdf