BT Group and AbilityNet partnership drives ongoing digital inclusion success
Annie Mannion | 14 Nov 2025
AbilityNet and telecommunications company BT Group has announced the expansion of its partnership, which has been operating since 2023 to support older people and disabled adults with digital skills across the UK.
Now entering its third phase, the partnership is expanding its reach across new regions in the UK, including Northern Ireland.
During phase three, the partnership will continue its ongoing outreach activities including national awareness-raising campaigns and free digital skills online webinars. A new Disability Specialist Trainer has also joined the team to support the project's goals, providing digital skills training for disabled adults and over 65s, covering areas from Birmingham through to North London.
Phase two huge successes
As our recently released Phase 2 Impact Report reveals, from August 2024 to August 2025, the partnership supported just shy of 10, 000 new learners, delivering more than ever to improve digital inclusion across the UK.
This has been achieved through in person and online support, driving greater results and deeper impact.
During Phase 2, the partnership delivered both in-person and online support to engage disabled adults and individuals aged 65 and over with the digital world:
- 1,981 one-to-one and group in person digital skills sessions
- 15 modules of training created
- 8,416 individual training modules completed
- 8 bitesize videos created
- 3,883 views of bitesize training videos
- 22 webinar sessions covering 17 different topics
- 3,916 webinar attendees
- 3,436 watch backs of webinar sessions
- 65 Digital Voice roadshows staffed
- 1,277 conversations with older people at roadshows
In Phase 2, we also delivered a series of knowledge-sharing webinars led by the AbilityNet team alongside guest speakers. Access the free webinar recordings:
- Saving money - with the Department for Work and Pensions
- Tech tips for hearing loss
- Travel made easy
- Seasonal scams - with celebrity speaker Linda Robson
Learn about the story so farPositive impact on thousands
Basic digital skills are now increasingly important for day-to-day life. People who are less familiar with digital devices risk losing access to key services like banking, shopping and health services, as well as apps and platforms that keep people connected.
Sarah Brain (pictured), Head of Free Services at AbilityNet says of the partnership as it enters into its third phase:
"Over the course of the partnership we have been able to support more than 14,850 older individuals and disabled adults by sharing digital skills knowledge and advice. We're excited to continue our work to enable us to help more people with lower digital skills, via the generous support of BT Group.
We've been able to have such a positive impact on so many people who benefit from developing basic digital skills such as using email, or downloading an app - things that many of us can take for granted in an increasingly digital world. This partnership is helping to delete the digital divide in the communities we're currently supporting."
Rich Marsh, Director of Responsible Business at BT Group, adds: "It's been terrific to work with AbilityNet on the journey so far, and I'm very excited about the year ahead where we'll look to grow that impact further."
Get digital skills support across the UK
"Excellent training which is definitely required for those not up to speed with the digital world.” - Digital Skills session attendee
AbilityNet's friendly team of Digital Skills trainers can provide free digital skills training to support older people (65+ years) and to disabled adults, in multiple areas across the UK. Learn how to do online shopping, send and receive emails, use apps and more.
(For free digital skills support outside of these areas, please call AbilityNet's tech helpline: 0300 180 0028 Monday to Friday, or contact us online.)
Free webinar: Online banking for beginnersWednesday 10 June 2026, 1pm GMT
Join AbilityNet's experts to learn how online banking works and what you can safely do, such as checking your balance, paying bills and moving money.
Register for the webinarHow AbilityNet can help
- Call AbilityNet's Helpline on 0300 180 0028
- Request help from an AbilityNet volunteer
- See our database of FREE factsheets
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