Network meeting 5 September 2024
Host: Sally Page – Deputy CEO at CCVS
Co-Host: Karen Cann – Communications and Development Worker at CCVS
Guest Speakers:
Zoe Amar – Founder and Director at Zoe Amar Digital
Charlotte Lewis – Senior Programme Manager – Localities at The Centre for Ageing Better
Attendees
Jane Jenner – St Ives Cares Coordinator at St Ives Town Council
Lorna Gough – Communications Officer at CCVS
Madeleine Cassidy – Chief Executive at Cambridge Online
Hayley Neal – Chief Executive at Cambridgeshire ACRE
Ginny Swepson – Digital Skills Tutor at Camtrust
Charlie Burrows – Digital Inclusion Advisor at Cambridge Citizens Advice
Sophia Catling – Head of Outreach for Cambridge Online
Stuart Smith – Head of Public Sector at dbfb Communications
Emma Watson – Trusts, Foundations and Partnerships Manager at Wavelength
Deborah Katznelson – Trustee at Cambridgeshire Older People’s Enterprise (COPE)
James Lewis – Community Connector – East of England at Places for People
Julie Kerr – Deputy Mayor for St Ives Town Council
Karen Jeffreys – Funding Development Manager at Lewisham Local
Guest Speakers
Zoe Amar – Founder and Director at Zoe Amar Digital
Zoe shared presented a summary of key findings from The Charity Digital Skills Report
Zoe explained that the report is like an annual barometer for the sector’s skills and most responses is from small charities. They are measuring the ongoing digital progress of the sector.
There were 635 responses from all over the UK. Zoe asked if members could help by sharing next year’s survey.
Zoe said that they started to look at the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, and it has had a big impact this year – 7 out of 10 charities are struggling to progress digitally due to their finances.
Zoe said despite this, charities are being innovative with digital.
Key highlights
- Three quarters of charities moved forward with digital this year
- 81% of charities are using digital tools in their service delivery
- 61% of charities are using AI tools in their operations
- Digital is a priority for 80% of charities and 50% have a digital strategy
- 45% of small charities say their digital progress helped raise their profile
Overall, larger charities are further ahead with digital. The gap is even bigger this year. This is worrying.
Regarding inclusion and specific marginalised groups, Zoe said again they were very worried. For example, 72% of black led charities see digital as a priority but 41% can’t find a funder to support their digital project.
Zoe also explained that there were digital funding barriers and only a quarter of charities accessed digital funding this year. They had a feeling that funders might not understand digital the way that charities do, and it was leaving charities very frustrated. Zoe said that they will take these insights to the funders.
Zoe explained that in the wake of the recent riots, it brought to light some of the findings, and that digital was important as a safe space for some communities, which can be used for support.
Zoe asked people to please take a look at the report in detail as there was much more important and useful data to be read including:
- Digital skills and gaps
- Leadership skills
- System and IT
- Nations and regions
- Infrastructure organisations, social enterprise and EDI groups.
Zoe welcomed people to get in touch if they want to collaborate or help next year: [email protected]
Sally Page, mentioned some findings from Support Cambridgeshire’s research report; The State of the Sector. She explained that the results showed that 15% found digital a big issue for their client groups and 35% an issue. For digital skills within staff, 11% said a big issue and 39% an issue.
Cambridge CVS understands that charities need their support with digital.
Karen Jeffreys said Zoe’s presentation resonated with her and asked for clarification in the ‘lack of trust’ with funders. Zoe explained that charities feel that funders don’t understand how important digital is and how transformative it can be for the people charities support. Karen responded by saying how the report findings are important for evidence for grant applications.
Madeleine Cassidy from Cambridge Online spoke about A.I. and how she used it every day but believes it isn’t used widely by small charities. However, a lot of charities are probably using it but feel not enough to say ‘yes’ in the survey. Zoe said they found there were a lot of individuals who were enthusiastic about A.I but not everyone in the organisation. Zoe suggested that managers could approach staff about A.I in a relaxed way, maybe discussing it at a staff meeting, therefore giving them permission to try it out and learn together.
Charlie Burrows from Cambridge CAB then asked if there was a list of the top tasks people use A.I for.
Zoe said they did collect that data, and the tasks included things like:
- Developing online content
- Generating ideas
- Writing funding bids
Charlotte Lewis – Senior Programme Manager – Localities at The Centre for Ageing Better
Charlotte delivered a presentation on age-friendly communities.
Charlotte said by 2042 there will be 63% more people over 80 years old, as we have a growing older generation. It is therefore crucial that communities work together for all ages.
An age-friendly community is a place that enables people to age well and live a good later life. To stay living in their home and be active and contribute to their communities for as long as possible.
WHO age-friendly communities’ framework has 8 domains:
- Outdoor spaces and buildings
- Transportation
- Housing
- Social participation
- Respect and social inclusion
- Civic participation and employment
- Communication and information
- Community support and health services
There are 83 members in the UK age-friendly communities’ network.
Charlotte then followed to ask, what does digital inclusion look like in an age-friendly community?
- Ensuring people of all ages have access to digital skills support that works for them and supports them to do things they would like to do.
- Ensuring that services and information is accessible also in offline formats for people who don’t want to use the internet or can’t.
To work with people and not to tell them what they need to learn but ask what would like to learn to make life better for them. This digital support must be easily accessible in the community.
This work sits in the communication and information domain, but it also touches all the other domains too as digital is now woven into all parts of life.
Charlotte highlights this good work:
Tech & Tea Digital Champions | Salford CVS
Charlotte said it’s good to recognise the social element of ‘Tech and Tea’. They are providing a chance to socialise too.
Charlotte finished her presentation by saying that if you wanted to get involved please visit: Four steps to becoming an Age-friendly Community | Centre for Ageing Better (ageing-better.org.uk)
Deborah Katznelson enquired if Cambridge was near to becoming an age friendly community. Charlotte said they hadn’t heard anything yet, but it wasn’t a government requirement in England and Scotland to do anything on ageing in general in your community, so it’s up to individual councils. Deborah followed to say that it was extremely important, and she has seen other projects work very successfully.
Deborah said she is a trustee at COPE, and they would be eager to help with the project.
Jane Jenner introduced herself and said she works for the project; St Ives Cares for St Ives Town Council and they joined the age-friendly community network about a year ago. She has set up a neighbourhood support scheme for the older adults. Jane said that the network has provided her with lots of great resources. Jane then reported that she has just met with people to discuss a project for isolated older people.
Jane also said that she works with St Ives Dementia Friendly Community group. She said their biggest aim is around communication and information and they’ve set up a new website but is also aware that not everyone is online. They also had some ideas on some dementia-friendly IT sessions. They trailed it and was successful so would like to take that forward.
St Ives have their age and dementia friendly awareness day on Friday 18 October to celebrate Older People’s Day. Will Plant from Connecting Cambridgeshire will be coming to give a presentation.
Stuart Smith from dbfb Communications mentioned the digital switch over which will affect vulnerable people who have assisted care and panic buttons.
His company are launching Connected Care – protecting vulnerable and older people, maintaining connected care beyond the PSTN switch-off and enriching wellbeing for families and their loved ones.
Ensuring continuity of care: Adapting to the PSTN Switch-Off with advanced telecom solutions | dbfb
Stuart is also working on Digital High Streets – using technology to promote and optimise village centres, high streets and town centres.
The company are also planning digital pods to address digital exclusion.
Stuart said if anyone wanted a demonstration of the tech or wanted to chat about any of the other projects please get in touch: [email protected]
Charlie Burrows from Citizens Advice Cambridge introduced himself, he is their Digital Inclusion Advisor. He is new in post and has been busy out and about meeting people in the community. He has been informing people about Learn My Way and working with Cambridge Online.
Sally ended the meeting by sharing news about the free Cambs Digi Fest events that are coming up, you can find out more here: Cambs Digi Fest 2024! – Cambridgeshire Digital Partnership
If you have any ideas or suggestions for future meetings, please email: [email protected]
Thanks to everyone who attended.