Digital Inclusion leaders, volunteers, and community partners came together on Wednesday, 4th December, at the Meadows Community Centre in Cambridge for the ‘Connect and Celebrate: Cambridgeshire Digital Partnership 2024 Round-up’.

The event, hosted by Connecting Cambridgeshire in partnership with the Cambridgeshire Digital Partnership (CDP), was an opportunity to reflect on achievements in tackling digital inequality and to plan future efforts collaboratively.

Attendees heard from Will Plant, Digital Inclusion Lead for Connecting Cambridgeshire, who shared an update about Connecting Cambridgeshire’s achievements so far and the programmes’ ongoing ambitious plans to expand digital support across the region.

Sally Page, Deputy CEO Cambridge Council for Voluntary Service who was representing the Cambridgeshire Digital Partnership, spoke about the network’s vision and successes.

The morning featured an insightful presentation from Immy Black, Senior Project and External Affairs Officer for the Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA). Immy gave an overview of the national picture through the work of the DPA and inspired the audience with details of the local impact of the Tech4YoungCarers scheme.

Tech4YoungCarers is a program designed to provide laptops, internet connectivity, and digital skills training to young carers aged 14-25 across Fenland, South Cambridgeshire, and Huntingdonshire.By providing them with the tools they need to participate in education and personal development, the aim is to empower young carers to thrive both in their educational journey and personal development.

Interactive roundtable networking sessions allowed attendees to discuss key priorities for digital inclusion across four focus organisations: CDP, Cambridgeshire Libraries, Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research, and the Care Network, sparking innovative ideas and potential collaborations.

Will Plant said: “The participation and discussions we heard during this event demonstrate the power of collaboration in addressing digital inequality. We’re excited to work alongside our partners to ensure everyone in Cambridgeshire can benefit from digital connectivity and support.”

Sally Page, from the Cambridgeshire Digital Partnership, added: “It’s inspiring to see so many people dedicated to making a difference in our communities. By working together, we can continue to break down barriers to digital access and empower more people to thrive in an increasingly digital world.”

As the event concluded, attendees were encouraged to nominate their Digital Superstars. These are individuals or teams who have gone above and beyond to support digital inclusion in their communities.

All Digital Superstars nominees will be celebrated with a certificate, and their achievements will be shared as part of a countywide campaign. They will also be entered into a prize draw to win a high street voucher. So if you have someone in mind who deserves to be recognised for their volunteering efforts or contributions to progressing digital inclusion, submit your nominations by 24th January 2025 via this online form.

For more information about the digital inclusion support available, visit our Help to get online page.