Collaboration Between People's Partnership and Good Things Foundation to Address UK's Digital and Financial Inequalities
In a significant move to bridge the digital divide and promote financial inclusion among low-income and vulnerable adults in the UK, Good Things Foundation, a leading UK charity focused on digital inclusion, has partnered with pension provider People's Partnership.
This collaboration aims to address digital and financial exclusion by focusing on several key objectives:
- Digital Skills Development: People's Partnership is co-developing a new online learning module for Good Things Foundation's free digital skills platform, Learn My Way. This module will help adults manage their finances online, enhancing their digital literacy and financial capability.
- Digital Journey Audit: A comprehensive audit of the digital journey experienced by these adults will be conducted. This will help identify areas for improvement and tailor support more effectively.
- Webinars and Network Engagement: The collaboration includes a series of webinars for members of Good Things Foundation's National Digital Inclusion Network, which connects over 5,000 community partners across the UK. These webinars will further engage community partners in addressing digital and financial exclusion.
The overarching goal is to ensure that no one is left behind in the digital age, particularly in managing financial matters online, thereby promoting inclusion and equity among low-income and vulnerable populations in the UK.
According to a 2024 Good Things Foundation report, around one in five UK households or individuals currently face digital exclusion, with affordability, access, and skills being key barriers. The minimum digital living standard for UK households includes accessible internet, adequate equipment, and the necessary skills and knowledge.
People's Partnership, which manages over £35bn (€40bn) in assets for seven million savers, will bring its expertise in financial services to this collaboration. The partnership does not involve any advertisements.
It is worth noting that 16% of adults in the UK lack foundation level digital skills, and 4% are completely offline, according to the report. This partnership empowers vulnerable adults to take control of their financial future, thereby breaking down barriers for digital financial inclusion.
[1] Good Things Foundation. (n.d.). Learn My Way. Retrieved from https://learnmyway.com/ [2] Good Things Foundation. (n.d.). National Digital Inclusion Network. Retrieved from https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org/ndin/
- Through the partnership with People's Partnership, development finance is being employed to create an online learning module on Good Things Foundation's platform, Learn My Way, aimed at providing personal-finance education and boosting digital inclusion among low-income adults in the UK.
- The collaborative effort between Good Things Foundation and People's Partnership is targeting financial inclusion by conducting a thorough audit of the digital journey experienced by financially excluded adults to better tailor support and enhance technology-based financial services.
- The alliance between these organizations not only includes the creation of digital learning resources, but also a series of webinars for local community partners of Good Things Foundation's National Digital Inclusion Network to foster cooperation and encourage involvement in addressing digital and financial exclusion.
- Beyond promoting financial inclusion and digital literacy initiatives, this partnership seeks to have a social impact by empowering vulnerable adults with limited digital skills and knowledge to manage their finances online, thereby fostering education-and-self-development and contributing to a more equitable society in the UK.
