Tag: Benefits

  • Digital Poverty in the UK

    As every aspect of life – from job seeking to health care – moves online, digital connectivity is a daily necessity, not a luxury. Against the backdrop of the UK’s worst cost of living crisis in 40 years, discussions about fuel and food poverty are now joined by a new concern with what has become known as digital poverty – challenges affording the cost of online connectivity and devices. Using data from a survey of low-income households, this Policy Briefing explores the extent of digital poverty in the UK and shows how it can exacerbate other forms of poverty among the most disadvantaged households. It also shows how current fixes, including social tariffs aimed at the poorest in society, are not effectively addressing this critical issue. […]

  • Housing Associations: Get Free Digital Skills Training for Your Tenants

    In today’s digital age, it is more important than ever for people to have access to digital skills. Digital skills can help people find jobs, learn new things, and stay connected with friends and family. However, not everyone has the same access to digital skills training. Housing associations can help bridge this gap by offering free digital skills training to their tenants.

    There are many benefits to offering free digital skills training to tenants. First, it can help tenants find jobs. Many jobs now require some level of digital skills, such as the ability to use a computer and the internet. By providing tenants with the skills they need to use these technologies, housing associations can help them find jobs and improve their economic security.

    Second, offering free digital skills training can help tenants learn new things. The internet is a vast resource for information and education. By providing tenants with the skills they need to access this information, housing associations can help them learn new things and improve their lives.

    Third, offering free digital skills training can help tenants stay connected with friends and family. The internet is a great way to stay in touch with people who live far away. By providing tenants with the skills they need to use these technologies, housing associations can help them stay connected with their loved ones.

    If you are a housing association, I encourage you to offer free digital skills training to your tenants. It is a great way to help them improve their lives and build a brighter future.

    How to Get Started

    If you are interested in offering free digital skills training to your tenants, there are a few things you need to do. First, you need to find a provider of digital skills training. There are many providers available, both for-profit and nonprofit. Once you have found a provider, you need to contact them and discuss your needs. They will be able to help you design a training program that is tailored to your tenants’ needs.

    Once you have a training program in place, you need to promote it to your tenants. You can do this through your website, social media, and other channels. You can also offer incentives to tenants who participate in the training, such as gift cards or discounts on rent.

    By offering free digital skills training to your tenants, you can help them improve their lives and build a brighter future.

  • Why Housing Associations Should Help Tenants

    Housing associations are organizations that provide affordable housing to people who need it. They do this by building and managing homes, and by providing support services to their tenants.

    There are many reasons why housing associations should help their tenants. Some of these reasons include:

    • To provide a safe and secure home: Everyone deserves to live in a safe and secure home. Housing associations can help to make this happen by providing quality housing that is well-maintained and free from crime.
    • To improve the quality of life: Housing associations can help to improve the quality of life for their tenants by providing them with access to essential services, such as healthcare, education, and employment support.
    • To promote social inclusion: Housing associations can help to promote social inclusion by providing their tenants with opportunities to participate in their communities. This can be done by providing access to community facilities, such as libraries and sports centers, and by supporting tenants to get involved in local activities.
    • To reduce poverty: Housing associations can help to reduce poverty by providing affordable housing to people who would otherwise struggle to find it. This can help people to save money, which can then be used to improve their quality of life.

    Housing associations play an important role in society. They provide affordable housing to people who need it, and they help to improve the quality of life for their tenants. By helping their tenants, housing associations can make a real difference in the world.

    In addition to the reasons listed above, housing associations can also help their tenants by:

    • Providing financial assistance: Housing associations can help their tenants with financial assistance, such as rent subsidies and emergency funds. This can help tenants to make ends meet and to avoid homelessness.
    • Providing job training: Housing associations can help their tenants with job training and placement services. This can help tenants to find employment and to improve their financial situation.
    • Providing childcare: Housing associations can provide childcare services for tenants who need it. This can help tenants to work or to go to school.
    • Providing health care: Housing associations can provide health care services for tenants who need it. This can help tenants to stay healthy and to avoid costly medical bills.

    Housing associations are a valuable resource for people who need affordable housing. By providing a variety of services, housing associations can help their tenants to improve their lives and to become more self-sufficient.

  • How Digital Inclusion Can Help Housing Associations Clients

    In today’s digital world, access to the internet and digital technologies is essential for participating in society. People use the internet to stay connected with friends and family, to find jobs, to learn new things, and to access government services. Those who do not have access to the internet are at a significant disadvantage.

    Digital inclusion is the process of ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate in the digital world. This includes having access to the internet, computers, and other digital devices, as well as the skills and knowledge needed to use them effectively.

    There are many ways that digital inclusion can help housing associations clients. For example, it can help them:

    • Find jobs: The internet is a great resource for job seekers. It can be used to search for jobs, apply for jobs, and network with potential employers.
    • Learn new skills: There are many online resources that can help people learn new skills. This includes everything from basic computer literacy to more specialized skills such as coding and web design.
    • Access government services: Many government services are now available online. This can make it easier for people to access the services they need, such as benefits and healthcare.
    • Stay connected with friends and family: The internet is a great way to stay connected with friends and family who live far away. It can be used to send emails, chat, and video chat.
    • Participate in their communities: The internet can be used to participate in community events, volunteer, and get involved in local politics.

    Digital inclusion is an important issue for housing associations. By helping their clients to get online and to use digital technologies, housing associations can help them to improve their lives and to participate more fully in society.

    Here are some specific examples of how housing associations can promote digital inclusion:

    • Provide free or low-cost internet access to their tenants.
    • Offer digital literacy training to their tenants.
    • Partner with local businesses and organizations to provide access to computers and the internet.
    • Promote the use of digital technologies in their tenants’ lives.

    By taking these steps, housing associations can help to ensure that their tenants have the opportunity to benefit from the many opportunities that the digital world has to offer.

  • How a Bespoke Tech Service Can Bring Digital Skills and Equipment at a Low Cost to a Housing Association

    In today’s digital world, it is more important than ever for people to have access to the internet and digital technologies. This is especially true for people who live in housing associations, as they may be more likely to face barriers to digital inclusion.

    There are a number of things that housing associations can do to help their tenants access the internet and digital technologies. One way is to provide a bespoke tech service. A bespoke tech service is a tailored service that is designed to meet the specific needs of a housing association and its tenants.

    A bespoke tech service can provide a number of benefits to housing associations, including:

    • Increased digital inclusion: A bespoke tech service can help to increase digital inclusion by providing tenants with the skills and equipment they need to access the internet and digital technologies.
    • Reduced costs: A bespoke tech service can help to reduce costs by providing tenants with access to affordable internet and digital equipment.
    • Improved tenant satisfaction: A bespoke tech service can help to improve tenant satisfaction by providing them with the support they need to use the internet and digital technologies.

    There are a number of things that housing associations need to consider when choosing a bespoke tech service. These include:

    • The needs of their tenants: Housing associations need to choose a bespoke tech service that meets the specific needs of their tenants.
    • The cost of the service: Housing associations need to choose a bespoke tech service that is affordable.
    • The quality of the service: Housing associations need to choose a bespoke tech service that is of high quality.

    By choosing a bespoke tech service, housing associations can help to ensure that their tenants have access to the internet and digital technologies. This can help to improve their lives and to make them more independent.