Nobody in the Dark

Nobody in the Dark was first launched in March 2020 to offer immediate support to digitally and financially excluded people in the UK, especially those in poverty hit hardest by the impact of COVID-19. Relaunched in the summer of 2021, the coalition of Good Things Foundation, Mastercard, Lloyds Banking Group and Clean Slate continues to make sure no one is left behind by the digital revolution.

In 2021, the Nobody in the Dark campaign is using the stories of real people who have already benefitted from the programme to raise awareness of the help that's available

The need to bring together digital inclusion and practical help with money increased dramatically during the COVID-19 crisis, with an estimated six million people falling behind on a household bill due to Coronavirus.

There are 11.7 million people in the UK who don’t have all the essential digital skills. This digital divide is most pronounced for those living in poverty; almost half of those with an income below £11,500 lack essential digital skills compared to less than 11% of those with an income over £25,000.

The coalition seeks to address this challenge by supporting those most in need. The Nobody in the Dark campaign highlights these issues and more importantly addresses them with practical help: bespoke online resources and personal one-to-one support in 20 communities across the UK.

The programme is targeting people living in poverty or on low incomes, who have limited digital skills and need support to use digital financial tools. This includes people facing greater risks of digital and financial barriers, including disabled people and people from communities experiencing racial inequalities.

The free resource hub at nobodyinthedark.co.uk is also available to help boost the confidence of those with limited digital skills, allowing them to engage confidently with free, trusted online support on money, security, benefits and debt.

Last year the coalition partnered with spoken word poet Hussain Manawer, to leave Nobody in the Dark and shine a light on the people in the UK who are still in the dark about their digital finances.

Partnership highlights

05/07/2021 · News

Nobody in the dark reignites to ensure no one is left behind by digital revolution

Good Things Foundation, Mastercard, Lloyds Banking Group and Clean Slate join forces on programme to support digitally and financially excluded people across UK.

 

11/11/2020 · Our stories

Nobody in the Dark: SmartLyte’s story

Hear from one of our community partners who participated in our financial inclusion programme.

 

26/06/2020 · News

Financial exclusion and digital exclusion often go hand in hand

APLE Collective are working as part of a coalition of partners with Good Things Foundation, Clean Slate, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Mastercard to offer immediate support to digitally and financially excluded people in the UK, with a focus on those in poverty hit hardest by the impact of Covid-19.

 

29/06/2020 · Our thoughts

Money, debt, digital: 5 new ways to lose out

Our Director of Design, Research and Comms, Emma Stone, unpicks how digital exclusion exacerbates poverty and financial exclusion, and why digital inclusion to enable financial stability is more crucial now than ever.

 

07/12/2020 · Financial inclusion

Providing digital and financial support together

On 10 November, Mastercard lit up tower blocks in Bristol and London for 19 minutes 40 seconds to represent 19.4 million people who don’t feel prepared for difficult times ahead due to digital or financial exclusion.

 

Our partners

Mastercard

Clean Slate