In late 2023 a team coordinated by the Community Broadband Network was commissioned by Preston City Council to assess the level of digital exclusion in Preston and make recommendations about what can be done here to address these challenges, and build digital inclusion in Preston.
We looked at three key aspects:
digital skills
access to suitable devices
access to suitable connectivity
We learned that Preston is like many other places around the country. While there are parts of Preston that are really well served in terms of connectivity, with several providers rolling out new ultrafast fibre networks, there are also parts of the city where people are struggling to access a decent connection. This is due to multiple factors, including a lack of provision, the challenge of affordability in the face of the cost of living crisis, and low levels of skill and confidence.
While it sometimes feels like the world is awash with smartphones and computers, our findings are that there are significant sections of the population in Preston who are facing difficulties accessing decent devices, again for a range of reasons – not always simply about cost.
Equally when it comes to skills and the confidence to use digital tools, we found some impressive work going on across a wide range of organisations to enable people to get things done. Clearly more needs to be done, however, and everywhere the story seems to be the same – that demand is growing and there are still many barriers to overcome.
This is the background to setting up a new, community-based, mutual organisation – the Preston Digital Cooperative – to tackle these challenges and provide new ways for everyone to access digital connectivity and services.
Tackling digital exclusion – promoting digital inclusion
The move to digital services that has been gathering pace over the past decade has turned into a headlong rush, particularly as a consequence of the pandemic. Accompanied by the increasing loss of many alternative and traditional communication channels, people need to use digital methods to get things done, or often face negative consequences. The impact of this shift for large sections of our communities – where rapid adoption of digital tools and methods is simply not easily workable for many – demands that action be taken. This is digital exclusion in practice. It is recognised as a significant and growing challenge everywhere, and it will only get worse unless we do something about it by finding new and imaginative ways to promote digital inclusion and better access to digital services for all.
Setting up new ways of digital access and connectivity
The approach that we have recommended, as a result of our work and consultations to date, and one that has thus far been enthusiastically supported, is to establish a new Preston-wide cooperative, bringing interested organisations together around the table, so that we can work together to address the challenges of digital exclusion in the city through effective collaboration and partnership, taking a holistic approach. This organisation has the working title of the Preston Digital Cooperative (PDC), and as the name suggests, creates an inclusive democratic space where all voices can be heard, strategies and solutions can be co-designed, and challenges and successes shared.
What Preston Digital Cooperative aims to achieve
The vision that is driving this forward is of a Preston where no-one is left behind for want of a decent connection, a suitable device, or the knowledge, skills and confidence to make good use of that device and connectivity in order to achieve the things they need and want to do.
“Digital-first” does not need to be the only approach, nor should it mean digital-only. There will always be an important role for non-digital ways of getting things done, supported by open and easy to use digital services. This multi-channel approach needs to be nurtured and made integral to any digital-first approach.
Making this vision real is the primary objective of the proposed cooperative.
Why a cooperative?
This is a key recommendation in our report, which has been supported by Preston City Council and other local organisations with which we have consulted, for a number of compelling reasons:
- It’s a great fit with the community wealth building approach that the City Council has championed, and which has already delivered numerous benefits to Preston;
- It gives involved organisations across the City a seat at the table and an equal voice in the debate, whilst at the same time creating an autonomous organisation with freedom of movement that can get things done without a lot of bureaucracy getting in the way;
- By participating in and supporting the cooperative, no single organisation is bearing an unduly heavy responsibility and so risk and reward is shared across all of the membership;
- By bringing a diverse range of interests together to cooperate, we create the potential for greater innovation, deeper collaboration, and synergy: together we are greater than the sum of the parts.
Who can be involved?
It is of course up the members of the cooperative to define the criteria for membership, but our initial thinking suggests that membership should be open to any organisation working in the City that has an interest in making digital inclusion a success story for the people of Preston.
How will it work in practice?
There’s a great deal of work to be done. We’ve secured some funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to support the establishment and work of the cooperative over the first year or so of its operations. We have resources to support the targeted creation of some new connectivity in the city, and we have funding to support skills development. It will be down to the members to discuss and agree exactly how best these resources will be deployed, so we’re keen to get those working groups and conversations happening as soon as we can. We already have some ideas about how the cooperative could improve access to devices, and here too it will be for the cooperative's members to agree the best approach.
We’ll also be actively engaging with nationally recognised organisations in the field, like the Good Things Foundation and the Digital Poverty Alliance, to help accelerate our work. And of course we will be seeking to get behind and engage with all of those organisations already delivering great work across Preston. Our priorities right now are to get members recruited, get the delivery plan developed and agreed, and engage with the members and others across and beyond Preston so that together we can start making an impact.
Rights and responsibilities of membership
Each member organisation will purchase a share in the cooperative, and will be expected to contribute some time and energy to support the development and success of the cooperative and promote good practice. We anticipate that everyone that does get involved will take away a lot more in terms of the learning and connections gained than they will put in.
How your organisation can get involved
The first and most important action you can take is to apply for membership.
We'll shortly provide an online application form, but in the interim please get in touch by sending email to hello@preston.coop
Questions?
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can reach us via email at hello@preston.coop
This briefing has been prepared by the team at CBN, which has been commissioned by Preston City Council to support the development of the Preston Digital Cooperative.