Our Network Ambassadors play a key role in supporting and representing the National Digital Inclusion Network. They bring experience and expertise in delivering digital inclusion support in different regions and to different audiences and a passion for fixing the digital divide.
The four Network Ambassadors have a range of responsibilities, all with the aim of supporting and growing our network, including:
- Co-producing and delivering training and support for our network
- Sharing good practice in digital inclusion and specialist knowledge
- Representing the National Digital Inclusion Network at a local and national level, promoting the National Databank and Learn My Way and highlighting the impact of digital exclusion in their communities
- Providing important insights and feedback on our resources and services.
We’re thrilled to be working with and learning from such a fantastic group of people.
Lincs Digital
Ann and Rich Avison from Lincs Digital have been members of the network for years. Based in Lincolnshire, they bring a wealth of experience in supporting people to learn digital skills with expertise in supporting older people and outreach digital support. Lincs Digital is a small but mighty organisation and they’re great advocates for online safety and digital exclusion in remote rural communities. You’ll most likely come across Ann from Lincs Digital at meet-ups, generously sharing resources and tips to support your digital inclusion work.
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People Know How
The team at People Know How in Edinburgh and East Lothian have brought a range of skills and knowledge to the Network Ambassador programme. Their Reconnect service supports adults and families to improve their wellbeing by increasing digital and social inclusion. Their Reconnect team has co-produced our training and delivered a session on digital drop ins based on their holistic approach to digital skills support. They use a three-faceted approach to digital inclusion, providing support through digital groups in the community, one-to-one support, and the national Connecting Scotland digital support helpline. People Know How are also hot on research and campaigning, particularly their Connectivity Now campaign to end data poverty in Scotland.
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Smartlyte - Get Families Talking
Based in Birmingham, Smartlyte - Get Families Talking had long been advocating for digital inclusion at a regional level before taking on the role of Network Ambassador. Hafsha and Salim Shaikh have years of experience in participatory research and community led projects in digital, financial and health literacy. They also lead English language learning and have excellent relationships with national and local partners. They’re experts in delivering the National Databank and provide specialist network training in supporting learners of English to learn digital skills.
Starting Point
A real all rounder, Starting Point is a social enterprise in Stockport that plays a key role in digital inclusion in the borough, providing training and support for Digital Champions at other organisations as well as their own digital skills training. They also have a community cafe and provide loads of other services for the local community; an official warm space, clothes swaps, breakfast clubs, and activities for everyone from youngsters to older people. Their head of learning Mike Howard draws on his background in social care to deliver network training on supporting people with learning disabilities to use digital.