Shropshire Council leading the way on digital inclusion

Shropshire Council has received £15,000 from the Local Government Association (LGA) to help residents get online, following a successful application to their Digital Inclusion programme.

The funding will enable the council to press ahead with its digital skills project by recruiting a digital champion.  This person will be tasked with reaching out to residents who are over 65 and don’t have the skills, equipment or confidence to go online, to help them access the support they need.

Research shows that approximately 25% of Shropshire residents are digitally excluded, ranking above the national figure of 21%.

Of the 25% in Shropshire, nearly a quarter are over 65, reflecting the ageing population of the county.

Michele Leith, Shropshire Council director of workforce and transformation, said:

“We are committed to making it easier for Shropshire residents to engage with the council and access services.

“As part of the council’s digital transformation, more and more of our services are moving online enabling residents to engage with us at times that better suit them.

“However, we are acutely aware that not all residents are online. It is hugely important that we ensure that residents who are not online are aware of the support that is available to them, not only to help them engage with their council, but to make it easier for them to communicate with family and friends, save money through online shopping and much more.

“I’m delighted that we have received funding from the LGA for our digital skills project.”

Shropshire Council is one of ten councils across England to receive a share of £200,000 for projects to promote digital inclusion in their local communities.

More information about the support on offer in Shropshire will be available soon.

Making it easier for you to engage with your council

One of the ways in which the council is making it easier and quicker for you to access its services is via its new online portal, MyShropshire.

Created earlier this year, MyShropshire allows you to report an issue and track its progress in their local area, anytime and anywhere.

To find out more, you should visit https://shropshire.gov.uk/welcome-to-myshropshire/.