Purpose

To seek approval from the Cabinet Member for Health and Communities to strengthen digital inclusion work across Derbyshire for one year (from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026) by grant funding Rural Action Derbyshire £0.050m for the purpose of administrating digital inclusion small grants across Derbyshire.
 

Decision

That the Cabinet Member for Health and Communities approves strengthening of digital inclusion work across Derbyshire for one year (from approval date to 31 March 2026) by grant funding Rural Action Derbyshire £0.050m for the purpose of administrating digital inclusion small grants across Derbyshire.

Reasons for the decision

Agreeing to the additional funding outlined in this report will strengthen and assist Derbyshire providers of community based digital inclusion support, enabling more residents to become digitally included, connected, and confident. 

Alternative options considered

 Do nothing: Risk that without further reach into the community

 vulnerable populations will continue to be digitally excluded.

(Not preferred).