• Residents to receive free digital device and six months’ Vodafone Connectivity

• Also receive in-person digital skills training

• ‘Login LCR’ backed by £325,000 from Government’s Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund

• Local consortium includes more than 50 local partners

A new initiative is to help 1,500 digitally excluded Liverpool City Region residents get online.

Backed by £325,000 from the Government’s Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund, the ‘Login LCR’ scheme will enable the Combined Authority and 50 consortium partners to provide residents with a free digital device, six months of Vodafone Connectivity and in-person digital skills training.

The scheme will run between January and March 2026 and builds on the success of the Combined Authority’s previous public-private sector ‘Digital Inclusion Initiative’, that enabled more than 5,500 people to get online.

A series of ‘Login LCR Roadshow Events’ will also be hosted from January to March next year in each of the Liverpool City Region’s six local authority areas, allowing individuals to access drop-in digital support alongside other organisations such as financial institutions, the NHS, voluntary sector and local authority services.

Cllr Liam Robinson, Liverpool City Region Cabinet Member for Innovation, said:

“Digital inclusion isn’t just about providing access to technology – it’s about empowering people with the tools to change their lives.

“Through our Digital Inclusion Initiative, over 5,500 residents can now connect to jobs, education, healthcare, and stay in touch with loved ones. It’s already having a real impact across our communities and proved to Government that we know how to tackle digital exclusion.

“I’m proud that, working with our partners, and thanks to the Government’s Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund, we’re now able to build on that success to get even more people online.

“And this is only the start. We’re committed to closing the digital divide and creating a future where no one is left behind.”

Strategic partners in the programme include VodafoneThree, who have contributed 1,500 SIM cards as in-kind support. The programme will support individual’s awareness of digital services, support economically inactive and unemployed residents and improve digital literacy.

Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer, VodafoneThree, said:

“Digital connectivity is becoming increasingly significant, as technology evolves and digital skills are ever more essential for everyday life. We’re proud to work with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and over 50 local partners to deliver free connectivity and hands-on digital skills training, helping residents not just get online, but build the confidence to stay connected and thrive in a digital world.”

Login LCR is supported through the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund, a national programme led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), aimed at identifying and scaling up innovative approaches to tackling digital exclusion. It supports projects that improve access to devices, connectivity, and digital skills—particularly for those most at risk of being left behind.

Digital inclusion means all individuals and communities have access to, and can effectively use, digital technologies. It also bridges the digital divide, which is the gap between those who have access to and know how to use digital technologies, and those who don’t.

The Liverpool City Region Digital Inclusion Network, led by the Combined Authority, is committed to providing equal opportunities and resources for individuals to access and engage in modern digital life. Working across 270 organisations, the network brings together providers supporting residents online and tackling the digital divide.

Those experiencing ‘digital exclusion’ are often also affected by factors such as deprivation, labour market status or protected characteristics. These are further compounded by issues such as increases to cost-of-living and wider economic contraction.

The levels of multiple deprivation in the City Region play a part in higher levels of poverty experienced by residents than elsewhere in the UK.

More than a third of our neighbourhoods are in the top 10% most deprived nationally, significantly higher than all other Combined Authorities. This impacts access to services, education, health, housing and income. With this deprivation, digital deprivation is a common crossover factor.

Digital inclusion is crucial for reducing inequalities, promoting economic growth, and empowering individuals and communities. It enables people to access educational resources, job opportunities, healthcare services, government services, and other benefits that are increasingly available online. Increasing digital inclusion can help create equitable and connected communities.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology estimates there are over 125,000 digitally excluded working-age individuals in the City Region with no access to the internet.

And, according to the Lloyds Bank Consumer Digital Index, over 25% of residents in Liverpool City Region lack the essential digital skills needed for everyday life. These skills include being able to communicate online, manage information safely, transact securely, and solve problems using digital tools.

Find out more about digital inclusion in LCR at: www.helpingyouonline.co.uk