This is a network for organisations who are keen to co-ordinate and amplify digital inclusion activity across Cumbria. We focus on making things happen around the three main pillars of digital inclusion:
The network came together through our ongoing Let's Get Digital, West Cumbria project.You don't have to be a member of that project to join the Network. Everyone is Welcome!
Meetings are online, every quarter. The next meeting is in the New Year in 2026.
If you’d like to come, please contact Sarah Jewell, the Project Lead, direct.
Rachel Robson kindly hosted our meeting at Lakes College. Thank you Rachel, it was great to have an in-person network meet up. 😊
We heard from Sarah, about Let’s Get Digital, West Cumbria. Sarah introduced Inspire a short piece of online learning (or workshop) that helps embed an understanding of what ‘Digital Exclusion’ is, how it affects people, and what your organisation can do to tackle it. Organisations can access this for free, and Sarah hopes to run an in-person workshop in early 2026. You can also access Digital Champion training for staff and volunteers to support your beneficiaries with their digital skills.
Gemma gave us a great introduction to Levels, Whitehaven. Levels looks to be an amazing digital and gaming opportunity for the community (presentation here). There are some up and coming open days which you can attend to find out more and have a play with some of their amazing gaming and virtual reality kit.
Nic gave a great presentation on the NHS App – talking participants through what functions it has, how to utilise it and the ways different surgeries use it. See below for links to more information; guides and videos that you can share with colleagues, beneficiaries and community members.
Read the minutes and get all the links.
Thank you to everyone who attended this Network meeting 😊
It was great to welcome Rhia Mukherjee from Capgemini who has taken over from Jon leading on Capgemini’s support of both this Cumbria Digital Inclusion Network and the ‘Let’s Get Digital, West Cumbria’ project.
We heard from Lydia about BT Digital Voice and the roadshow where they’ll be out and about in the community, supporting people with the digital telephone switchover. Angela and Nichola came to chat about the NHS App, and the plea to continue supporting people to download and access it to manage their health. Becky came to introduce the ‘getUbetter’ App, which supports people with Musculoskeletal issues – free for GP surgeries and patients. We then updated the group on recent events, demonstrated the Digital Skills support map, that anyone can access to find their nearest digital skills support in Cumbria (see link above!).
You'll find links, contacts and more information in the full minutes. You can download full minutes/ summaries and contact details or watch the recording. You can also download Lydia's presentation about BT Digital Voice.
Thank you to everyone who attended this Network meeting 😊.
It was great to welcome Gary Mayall from Westmorland & Furness Council to this meeting.
We heard from Val & Angela about their request for help to get Digital Champions supporting community members with the use of the NHS App.
Iona from Capgemini joined us to promote the FREE online webinar sessions they can run for our Community Groups, and we discussed some up and coming Digital events.
You'll find links, contacts and more information in the full minutes and you can also watch the recording.
Thanks everyone who came along. It was great to welcome Joe from Cumbria Community Foundation and Rachael from Health Innovation North East & North Cumbria and hear from Laura Rutter. You can download the full minutes - and here are some links and info from the three presentations.
You can watch the presentation. The Bedrock fund is open for applications of up to £5,000 and you can find out more here. If you'd like to talk to Joe about it, he's here: joe@cumbriafoundation.org -
You can watch the presentation or contact Rachael here: rachael.forbister@healthinnovationnenc.org.uk
You can watch the presentation, download Laura's slides or contact her here: laura.rutter@cumbriacvs.org.uk
Look forward to seeing you at the next one!
It was lovely to see you all there! You can download the full minutes - and here are some useful links and info from the three presentations
Here are the slides and a recording of the presentation with Catherine Weldon from Connecting Cumbria.
Here are the slides and a recording of the presentation from Leo Hernandez from Janagla
If you'd like to apply for a Getbox, here's the sign-up form
Here's a recording of the presentation by Elizabeth Anderson from the Digital Poverty Alliance.
Links to finding out more/ applying for the schemes Elizabeth talked about:
Tech 4 Families and Tech 4 Youth (area specific)