Power Up

Power Up is a pioneering initiative, launched by Good Things Foundation with the financial support of J.P. Morgan, to drive economic inclusion through digital in communities - powering up people, provision and places.

Digital is changing our lives, our jobs, how we run our businesses and manage our money.

As economic recovery begins, essential digital skills – those we need for everyday life and participation in work – are more vital than ever before. Around 7.6 million workers face redundancy or reduced hours and pay due to Covid-19, and many will lack the essential digital skills required to find new and better work (Mckinsey, 2020). 92% of employers are now saying that they need basic digital skills from their employees (Worldskills UK, 2021). At the same time, 1 in 10 people are struggling to pay bills (Office for National Statistics, 2020) and people in the poorest households are at least four times more likely to be digitally excluded (Ofcom, 2020).

Essential digital skills need prioritisation and investment. This is where Power Up has, and will continue to help.

Power Up was launched in 2019 in the UK as a collaboration between Good Things Foundation and the J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation and is a £1 million fund that will help individuals, businesses and communities to become digitally engaged through building the digital skills they need to qualify for in-demand jobs and to improve their financial health.

Building on the success of the first phase of Power Up, Good Things Foundation will deliver a new phase, which aims to reach more people, enhance the digital skills support within community-based organisations.

Funded projects

Power Up funding has been awarded to 9 organisations that take a variety of approaches, tackle different areas of inclusion and work with different groups of people in their communities.

  • Deaf Action

    Deaf Action

    Deaf Action exists to support the diversity of deaf people, including deaf users of British Sign Language (BSL), and those who are deafened, deafblind or hard of hearing. Its work is geared towards empowering all deaf people to achieve their potential and fully participate in society, with equality of rights, access and opportunity.

  • Deaf Action

    Deaf Action exists to support the diversity of deaf people, including deaf users of British Sign Language (BSL), and those who are deafened, deafblind or hard of hearing. Its work is geared towards empowering all deaf people to achieve their potential and fully participate in society, with equality of rights, access and opportunity.

     

    Generation

    Generation is part of a global charity established in 2005 to empower young people to build thriving, sustainable careers and to provide employers the highly-skilled, motivated talent they need.

     

    City Gateway

    City Gateway is a charity based in East London, offering support, employment and apprenticeship opportunities for young people, women and families.

     

Insights

Our team of researchers went out into communities and spoke to people and businesses to identify the challenges and opportunities around living in the digital age. Take a look at our research reports and get in touch if you want to talk to us about what we do.

  • How-to guide: Place-based collaboration for digital inclusion

    01/02/2022 · Digital inclusion in communities

    How-to guide: Place-based collaboration for digital inclusion

    This guide focuses on place-based collaboration with a view to creating a local ecosystem to support digital inclusion.

  • How-to guide: embedding digital skills in your support offer

    01/02/2022 · Digital inclusion in communities

    How-to guide: embedding digital skills in your support offer

    This guide draws on what we’ve learnt from Power Up so far about embedding digital skills in services. It explains the benefits of embedding digital in services and support, shows how some organisations are already doing this and offers tips and resources to help you move forward

  • Power Up Independent Evaluation: summary report

    14/12/2021 · Digital inclusion in communities

    Power Up Independent Evaluation: summary report

    Power Up was launched in 2019 in the UK as a collaboration between Good Things Foundation and the J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation, this report details the impact of the first phase of the project.

  • Improving digital skills for small and micro businesses

    19/06/2019 · Digital inclusion in communities | Digital skills and adult learning | Jobs

    Improving digital skills for small and micro businesses

    This report summarises research exploring challenges to equipping small businesses and sole traders with the skills to flourish in a digital economy, and recommendations on how to overcome these.

  • Improving digital skills for employability

    19/06/2019 · Digital inclusion in communities | Jobs

    Improving digital skills for employability

    This report summarises research exploring challenges for support to improve employability through digital skills for people facing significant disadvantage.

  • Improving financial capability through digital skills

    19/06/2019 · Digital inclusion in communities | Financial inclusion

    Improving financial capability through digital skills

    This report summarises research exploring challenges for support to improve digital skills for low-income households in financial difficulties, and initial recommendations on how to overcome these.

Latest news

There has been plenty of activity from our Power Up grantees over the course of the initiative. Here you will be able to keep up to date with the latest news, blogs, and stories from across the funded Power Up projects.

14/12/2021 · Our thoughts

Power Up: the impact of the project so far

Our Director of Partnerships and Fundraising, Adam Micklethwaite, explains the impact of the Power Up initiative so far and looks towards the future of the project for 2022.

 

23/09/2021 · News

Good Things Foundation Launches Next Phase of Digital Skills Initiative ‘Power Up’ in the UK

JPMorgan Chase invests in Initiative to help more residents and small businesses build the skills they need for in-demand jobs.

 

19/06/2019 · Financial inclusion | Jobs

We need to get ready for a digital economy

Helen Milner OBE, Good Things Foundation Group CEO and Carol Lake, Head of International Philanthropy, J.P. Morgan explain why digital skills and access are essential to help us in a digital economy.

 

With the financial support of

J.P. Morgan