Disabled children to get digital boost from innovative charity partnerships
Annie Mannion | 21 May 2025AbilityNet is delighted to announce its involvement in a groundbreaking initiative that will improve the digital skills, confidence, and access to digital services for thousands of disabled children, and those with long-term illness and their families.
The new Driving Digital Inclusion Programme will provide more than 20,000 participants with access to digital devices, skills training, and ongoing support to help them navigate the digital world with confidence and safety.
The Digital Services Consortium (DSC) is an alliance of 12 children’s charities co-chaired by Kids and Sense. The member charities are: Ambitious about Autism, The Children’s Trust, Contact, Dingley’s Promise, Family Fund, Kids, National Deaf Children’s Society, Rainbow Trust, Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, Sense, WellChild and Whizz Kidz.
AbilityNet's team will be helping to upskill staff within the 12 charities on subjects like online safety and device accessibility, along with directly supporting families who may need a more comprehensive assessment on adaptations to their technology. Learn more about the project.
Sector is stronger together
Katie Ghose, Chair of DSC and Chief Executive of Kids, said:
“As a sector, we are stronger together. Having worked in partnership to build evidence of the experiences of those we supported throughout the pandemic, we were able to prove the potential impact of a deeper collaboration on this important issue- not only could we change thousands of lives, but also, the future of digital service delivery design, and the funding landscape.
Digital access is a right not a luxury. The consortium is determined to work with young people and their families to bring down the barriers and create safe, practical and fulfilling online opportunities for all.
To apply for support with your family's digital skills or access, please visit the Driving Digital Inclusion programme project information on the Kids charity website:
Speaking about the far-reaching initiative, Donna Baker-Smith (pictured), lead for the project within AbilityNet said:
“I’m incredibly proud to be part of this project, working alongside such dedicated organisations to make a real difference for families. Empowering people with the skills, tools, and confidence to use technology not only opens up opportunities — it transforms lives. It’s a privilege to contribute to something with such meaningful and lasting impact.”
Carly Blake, a disabled young person from Portsmouth who has benefitted from Kids online support, said:
“I think the Digital Inclusion Programme will be very valuable. There are some people out there that can’t afford devices, so having the funding and support there will really, really help. There is always people who are lacking the knowledge of technology because maybe they didn’t have the opportunity to learn it at school or college, so it will be very useful that they are going to get the right training and support to be able to access the services they should be entitled to be part of.”
Free webinar: How to make digital devices work for you: Tech tips for older usersDigital access can be a lifeline
Through the two-year programme, each of the 12 charities will deliver its own bespoke programme of digital support, whilst collectively meeting a growing need and preference for online and hybrid support. By combining services, devices and data, the programme will address a stark inequality of access and ensure the evolution of digital services is user-led.
The idea for the initiative was born out of the Covid pandemic, when Kids charity commissioned research with the Disabled Children’s Partnership to better understand the experiences of digitally disadvantaged and disabled children, young people and their families.
The Locked Out report concluded that done well, digital access can be a real lifeline – enabling access to friendships and vital services including therapies, information, advice and mediation. It has power to make the most difference to the groups these charities support, who are more likely to experience isolation and barriers to in-person services.
Funding the project
Thanks to National Lottery players, the DSC has received over £1.5 million over two years from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK. The DSC has also received a grant of £400,000 from BBC Children in Need for two years to provide digital support for disabled or seriously ill children and young people and their family members across the UK. Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone have generously donated devices and data through the Good Things Foundation National Databank and Device Bank which will help address affordability barriers.
This funding will enhance digital skills, confidence and access for children with disabilities, serious illnesses, and their families, and is a significant step towards ensuring that disabled children, young people, and families are not left behind in an increasingly digital world.
Get digital skills training for free How AbilityNet can help
- Call AbilityNet's helpline on 0300 180 0028
- Request help from an AbilityNet volunteer
- See our database of FREE factsheets
- Access FREE webinars about technology and disability
