Digital Inclusion

Introduction

Being online and having good digital skills has a wide range of benefits. It helps people to feel less isolated, save money, access better paid work, help their children, and can improve people’s health and wellbeing. As such, providing people with the equipment, connectivity, skills, confidence, motivation, and trust to engage with the online world generally has a positive effect on people’s lives. This is Digital Inclusion.

Why is it important to Population Health?

The number of people using the internet and digital technology in Derbyshire and the UK is gradually increasing. However, those who remain offline or lack essential digital skills are increasingly harder to reach and motivate. As the digital skills gap narrows, it also deepens. Most people will need multiple prompts and support to raise confidence and digital skills. It is easy for people to be digitally excluded if they do not have a device to connect to the internet, lack connectivity, or any combination of low levels of digital skills, confidence, motivation, or trust. Those people more at risk tend to be older, living on a low income, have low educational attainment, are disabled or are living alone.

Digital is now one of the wider determinants of health. It affects access to support, services, information, and access to health care alongside the chances of obtaining and retaining employment. Being offline or having limited digital skills now means people are financially, socially, and digitally excluded. Many financial services including making and receiving online payments, money saving deals, debt advice, lifestyle services and health care appointments are shifting to digital platforms. Digital inclusion is essential to reduce health inequalities and help increase financial inclusion. Those without digital skills are likely to be some of Derbyshire’s most marginalised and excluded individuals who have the most to gain from being online.

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) will be switched off by 2027 with BT Openreach targeting the East Midlands for switch from traditional services to those delivering voice and data over a single line which in very rural areas will still be copper for the foreseeable future. The key difference is for those that still have landlines as the main means to make calls as there will be a requirement to have an additional electrical device between any routers and the line termination that was not required on previous services. This will affect those who rely on traditional landlines, particularly older adults, people using telecare devices, and individuals in rural areas with limited mobile coverage. This transition poses a risk of increased isolation, loss of emergency telecare services, and additional barriers to communication for those who are not digitally connected. Without sufficient awareness and support, many could face disruption in accessing essential services, exacerbating digital and social exclusion.

Many rural and low-income communities in Derbyshire still experience limited broadband availability and poor mobile coverage, making it difficult to access digital services. Even where broadband infrastructure is available, affordability remains a key challenge, with some households unable to maintain internet subscriptions. The increasing reliance on digital services means that those without reliable connectivity face exclusion from employment, education, and health services, deepening existing inequalities.

The rising cost of living has forced many individuals and families to prioritise essential expenses over digital access, leading to data poverty, a situation where people cannot afford adequate mobile data or broadband services. This lack of connectivity restricts their ability to apply for jobs, access benefits, manage finances, and stay socially connected. Without intervention, financial exclusion will continue to grow, with those in the most vulnerable situations having the least ability to benefit from digital opportunities.

A lack of trust in digital platforms and concerns about cybersecurity, scams, and fraud prevent many people from engaging with online services. This is particularly true for older individuals and those with lower levels of digital literacy, who may fear financial loss or personal data breaches. Building confidence through education on online safety, scam awareness, and secure digital practices is crucial to encouraging wider participation in the digital world.

Libraries, community hubs, and public spaces play a critical role in providing free access to the internet, devices, and digital skills support. For those without home broadband or personal devices, these spaces are often their only means of staying connected. Strengthening and expanding digital support in these locations can help bridge the gap for individuals facing digital exclusion, ensuring they have the opportunity to build skills, access services, and participate fully in society.

The Derbyshire Population Health Approach

The Derbyshire Population Health Approach focuses on prevention, population health, evidence-informed practices, causes, and collaboration. It emphasises proactive measures to prevent health issues, tailors interventions to specific populations, incorporates evidence-informed practices, addresses underlying causes, and promotes collaboration for effective action.

When considering the topic of digital inclusion within The Derbyshire Population Health Approach:

Prevention

In Derbyshire it is estimated 8.5% of people are offline, 7.6% do not have internet access at home and 21% do not have the digital skills for life. In order to tackle digital exclusion, we are working with different partners to increase access to digital skills training, promote referral schemes to enable access to refurbished devices, develop training around scams to increase motivation and trust and increase volunteer digital champions in workplaces and the community.

Current Landscape

Access to reliable broadband and internet services is a critical component of digital inclusion in Derbyshire. The county comprises a mix of urban and rural areas, with significant disparities in broadband speeds and connectivity. While most urban locations benefit from superfast broadband and more lately Gigabit Full Fibre as demands show multiple users and devices especially where health related devices are required will mean that downloads of greater than 100Mbps and expandable to 1000Mbps and beyond, many rural communities still face limited access to high-speed internet, creating a digital divide.

The Digital Connectivity Triad

When viewed there are three elements that underpin access to the digital world.

• Coverage - Physical access availability whether physical infrastructure such as Fibre Optic provision at the premise rather than older technology where fibre presents to Cabinets and copper being the final link.
• Capacity - Whether mobile or fixed that the area has sufficient capacity to support the needs. In more rural areas and potentially urban not spots that the hidden capacity at the mast or distribution points will adversely effect the access and bandwidth.
• Affordability - If the infrastructure is not affordable to build or the potential users cannot afford to subscribe to gigabit capable internet without data limits will adversely impact the ability to connect to education, health and other services.

The Derbyshire County Council Digital Connectivity Strategy aligns with national broadband targets and aims to achieve gigabit-capable coverage across the county, supporting economic growth and improving public service delivery. The targets are 85% UK coverage by 2025 and 99% by 2030. One of the key concerns is the length of time that could leave residents especially in the very rural areas of Derbyshire and whether from a UK perspective the hard to reach communities make up a larger proportion than 99% nationally.

Challenges in Internet Access

• Rural Connectivity Issues - Many rural areas in Derbyshire experience lower broadband speeds, affecting businesses, education, and healthcare services that rely on digital platforms.
• Affordability and take up - Low-income households struggle to afford broadband services, leading to digital exclusion.
• Infrastructure Gaps - Despite the rollout of fibre networks, some locations remain underserved due to challenging topography and infrastructure costs.
• Digital Literacy - Even where broadband is available, some residents lack the skills or confidence to access online services effectively.

Strategic Priorities

• Gigabit Connectivity Expansion: Supporting the deployment of full-fibre networks and 5G infrastructure across Derbyshire. This is being led by BDUK, Building Digital United Kingdom, under the Project Gigabit programme.
• Public Service Connectivity: Ensuring schools, libraries, healthcare facilities, and community centres have high-speed internet access.
• Affordable Broadband Solutions: Promoting social tariffs and community broadband initiatives to reduce affordability barriers.
• Rural Broadband Solutions: Exploring alternative connectivity solutions, including fixed wireless access, FWA, low Earth orbit satellite services and community-led broadband projects. However, satellite, which can be an easily set up service, can be expensive and for those with cost of living challenges acts as a potential barrier to alternative provision.

Key Digital Connectivity Initiatives in Derbyshire

• Project Gigabit: Supporting UK government funding for gigabit broadband rollout in hard-to-reach areas.
• BDUK Funding: Working with broadband providers to expand fibre coverage.
• Digital Derbyshire Programme: A local initiative aimed at improving broadband infrastructure and ensuring Derbyshire residents benefit from next-generation connectivity.
• Community Broadband Support: Assisting local communities to establish broadband co-operatives or apply for funding to improve local networks.
• Public Wi-Fi Expansion: Extending free public Wi-Fi access in town centres, libraries, and public buildings to improve digital access.
• Mapping Mobile Coverage: DCC are actively at the time of writing undergoing a process where Streetwave, www.streetwave.co, will be measuring all 4 mobile signals and download speeds so that we can identify the areas of poor or no coverage.

A lack of broadband access can significantly impact health and social care outcomes, particularly for older residents and those with disabilities who rely on telehealth, online GP appointments, and digital social care services. Addressing broadband inequalities is therefore essential to reducing health disparities and enhancing social well-being.

Derbyshire County Council continues to work with government agencies, broadband network providers, mobile network operators and local community groups to ensure digital connectivity improvements align with long-term regional development plans. Partnerships with organisations like Digital Support Derbyshire Network play a vital role in addressing digital exclusion through internet access, skills training, and device provision.

Population

Research in Derbyshire has highlighted different population groups who are affected by their lack of digital skills, availability, and affordability of broadband and lack of devices.

Derbyshire residents aged 75+ are much more likely to not use the internet than younger people. Eighty five percent of the UK population who are estimated to have never used the internet are aged 65 or over and 22.10% of the Derbyshire population is aged 65 or older. This is higher than across England as a whole, 18.41%, contributing to a greater risk of digital exclusion. Derbyshire Dales has the highest proportion of people aged 65 and over, 27.83%, followed by North East Derbyshire, 24.80%, Amber Valley, 22.66% and Chesterfield, 21.53%. However, age alone is not a simple predictor of digital exclusion. The majority of people aged 65 and over, 71.1%, are internet users. Income, deprivation, disability, education, and other factors are also important.

People with a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability are less likely to be frequent internet users, with 18% of those surveyed in Derbyshire saying they do not use the internet, compared with 11% of the general population of the county, and only 8% of residents without disabilities. This mirrors national statistics, with 18.4% of disabled people not being regular internet users.

People on a low income are also less likely to use the internet compared to the whole of the population. In Derbyshire 17% of residents with incomes below 20,000 pounds did not use the internet, compared to 11% of the whole population. We know that 1 in 4 people earning under 11,499 pounds a year have skills in each of the five Essential Digital Skills groups, compared to 61% of people earning over 25,000 pounds, and 1 in 5 people living in households with an annual income of less than 25,000 pounds never use the internet.

Evidence

The Public Health approach to Digital Inclusion is informed by evidence based research which steers policies and intervention to enable people to become included in the digital world. We will use the evidence to improve access to broadband, devices and increase digital skills of those who are digitally excluded.

The further investment into the Digital Support Derbyshire Network will create better opportunities to work on a locality based approach working in collaboration with partners and stakeholders in each area.

Causes

There are many causes that result in people becoming digitally excluded but the three key problems in Derbyshire are a lack of motivation and trust in the digital world, a lack of digital skills both at home and at work and a lack of access to devices. As Derbyshire has many rural areas, connectivity and access to sufficient broadband is also a big issue.

Collaboration

Collaboration in Derbyshire is essential to reduce digital exclusion and requires input from different partners and organisations. The Digital Support Derbyshire Network was developed over two years ago by Citizens Online and Rural Action Derbyshire, RAD. The Network has recently received further funding from Derbyshire County Council to run for another two years, co-ordinated by RAD. The Network meets quarterly and brings together NHS, Derbyshire Constabulary and various voluntary, community and social enterprises from all localities who deliver basic digital skills training, train digital champions, refurbish and gift devices, all aiming to break down the three barriers to digital inclusion:

• Lack of digital skills
• Lack of motivation and support
• Lack of devices and connectivity

Latest Derbyshire Data

Gigabit-capable broadband

Premises below 30Mbps

4G coverage

5G coverage

Prevalence Maps of Derbyshire

The maps below illustrate various geographies for Derbyshire. LSOAs and MSOAs are geographical divisions used for statistical purposes, allowing for more detailed analysis of local data. In these maps, you can explore various health indicators and data for Derbyshire, providing valuable insights into the area’s health and wellbeing.

LSOA 2021

Wards

In the top right of the map, you’ll find the ‘Layer Control’ icon. This is an easy way to customise what you see on the map visualisation. Click the ‘Layer Control’ to choose which information is displayed on the map. Pick the indicator that interests you the most, and the map will transform accordingly.

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Slope Index

This chart illustrates the differences in health and lifestyle factors across areas in Derbyshire, from the most deprived (decile 1, red) to the least deprived (decile 10, green). As you move from left to right on the chart (from more deprived to less deprived areas), the line shows whether these factors are becoming more or less common. Essentially, it’s a way to see how living in wealthier or poorer areas affects the prevalence of these factors.

Used internet in last month

Never used the internet

Further Analysis & Assessments

Derbyshire Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) involves a thorough examination of a specific health problem, exploring its causes, consequences, and underlying factors. It combines various data sources, collaboration with stakeholders, and rigorous analysis to generate insights for evidence-informed interventions and policy changes.

More Information & Resources

This section will hold local and national resources related to digital inclusion, including practical support, strategies, guidance, and other materials that help people understand and address barriers to digital access and participation.

Contributors

Andrea Barber, Public Health Practitioner

Ian Stoddart, Digital Derbyshire

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