Power Up: Phase one impact report

This infographic shares the learnings and insights of the Power Up initiative between February 2020 - June 2021.

Power Up was a pioneering initiative, launched by Good Things Foundation with the financial support of J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation. Its aim was to drive economic inclusion through digital in communities – helping organisations embed digital skills into support for employability, financial capability and small businesses. Between October 2019 and June 2021, Power Up funded 15 community-based projects in East London, Bournemouth, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Four grantees focused on financial capability, five on employability, and five on both.

With the financial support of the J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation, and delivered by Good Things Foundation in England and Scotland, Power Up aims to break new ground, using digital to address economic inequality and creating new practice that can inform policy and programme design across all sectors.

Underpinned by dedicated research into demand for digital skills and its interaction with social and economic exclusion, Power Up began in November 2019 following a process of application, assessment and grant award. Delivered in Bournemouth, East London, Edinburgh and Glasgow, it focused on areas of high deprivation, working on the ground through 15 local projects to drive positive economic and social change for individuals and their communities.

In the new context of Covid-19, the aims and ambition of Power Up were more urgent and relevant than ever.

The programme sought to:

  • Power Up People – by building digital confidence, so that people are motivated to learn and keep on learning, and apply digital skills in their lives, businesses and at work.
  • Power Up Places – by connecting local organisations, service providers and others to provide individuals, businesses and communities with the joined up support they need to thrive.
  • Power Up Provision – by improving what is already offered by embedding digital into existing programmes so that digital skills support is not siloed or ‘bolted on’, drawing on what is already known about effective support, to improve tangible outcomes for individuals.

Power Up infographic

Download the infographic (601.9KB pdf)

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The coronavirus pandemic has exposed and exacerbated digital exclusion across the UK. Digital inclusion is no longer a nice-to-have, but a need-to-have and people still urgently need access, digital skills and support. We appreciate donations of any size as your donation can contribute to getting more households connected and comfortable using technology.

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