Digital inclusion works better when a place works together
Our new positioning paper shows how the Stage Index supports a place-based approach.
We’ve written a short positioning paper for councils and local partners, and we wanted to introduce it here.
It builds on recent research from Good Things Foundation, Strengthening a place-based approach to digital inclusion, which makes a simple but important point: tackling digital exclusion in a place works best when local partners act as one coordinated system, not as a scatter of separate projects. That means a shared vision, shared leadership, a shared way of reaching the people who are excluded, and a shared way of measuring whether things are actually improving.
Where our toolkit fits
Our paper looks honestly at where the IFB Gaming Stage Index helps with that, and where it doesn’t. We’re clear about one thing up front: the Stage Index is not a partnership tool, and it doesn’t replace Good Things Foundation’s. The two do different jobs, and they work well side by side.
Good Things Foundation’s tool helps a place understand how well its partners are working together.
Our Stage Index gives those same partners a shared, resident-level evidence base to work together around.
Together, they help a place see who is excluded, agree what to do, and prove that it is making a difference.
The paper maps the Stage Index against the four areas the research highlights, and is honest about which ones a measurement tool can genuinely support and which depend on leadership and funding that no tool can supply. If you work in a council or a local partnership, we think it’s a useful, practical read.
How to get the paper
The full positioning paper is available on request, we’re happy to send it over.
Head to our contact page and, in the message field, just mention you’d like the place-based positioning paper.
We’ll get it straight back to you, and we’re always glad to talk about how it might apply to your area.
How councils can use our digital inclusion toolkit
Practical tools to understand, measure, and act on digital exclusion in your area.
If you work in a council, you already know digital inclusion matters. The harder question is usually: where do we even start, and how do we show it is working? That is the gap our toolkit was built to fill.
The problem most councils run into
Plenty of good work happens across a borough, in libraries, community centres, and local groups. But it is often scattered, hard to see, and even harder to measure. Most digital inclusion gets counted in things handed out: devices given, SIM cards distributed. Those numbers matter, but they do not tell you whether anyone is actually more included as a result.
That is the real challenge. Not a lack of effort, but a lack of a shared way to understand who is excluded, why, and whether things are improving. Without that, it is tough to plan, tough to join things up, and tough to make the case for funding.
How a council can use the toolkit
Our toolkit is free to start with, needs no login, and is built to be useful straight away. Here are the main ways councils are putting it to work.
1
Check where your council stands
There is a version of our Stage Index built specifically for councils, weighted around the things you actually deal with, like governance and strategy. It gives you a clear, scored picture of how mature your digital inclusion approach is, and where the gaps are.
2
Understand your residents
The quick Digital Inclusion Check and the fuller Stage Index help you see who is excluded in your area and why. That gives you real community insight, the kind that is genuinely hard to get, and exactly what you need for planning and funding bids.
3
Give your teams a shared language
Our From Devices to Impact toolkit gives frontline staff, libraries, and community partners one common framework and a set of real-life personas. Suddenly everyone means the same thing by “digital inclusion,” which makes joining things up far easier.
4
Join up local delivery
Our Data Waypoint model helps you map and connect the places already doing this work on the ground, turning scattered activity into a visible, coordinated network across the borough.
5
Show that it is working
Because the tools measure where people are and whether they are moving forward, not just what was handed out, you get evidence you can actually use in strategies, reports, and funding applications.
Free to start, more when you need it. The core tools are open for any council to use right now. When you want more, borough-wide rollout, tailored benchmarking, joined-up resident data, and support, that is where we work with you directly as a partner. We will always be clear about what is free and what is a commissioned piece of work.
Why work with us
We are a community organisation, not a big consultancy, so we get the realities of delivering this work on the ground. We care about people being genuinely included, not just counted. And we have done the groundwork councils ask about, clear privacy and data handling, an accessibility commitment, and tools designed around real residents rather than abstract user groups.
Let’s talk about your borough
Whether you want to start with the free tools or explore a fuller partnership, we would love to hear what you are working on and where we can help.
Digital inclusion is no longer just about access to devices or internet connectivity. Increasingly, it is about people, confidence, trust, and ensuring that no community is left behind in an increasingly digital world.
Recent research from Good Things Foundation highlights the importance of “place-based digital inclusion” — an approach focused on supporting people through trusted local organisations, partnerships, and community networks rather than relying solely on national or technology-led solutions.
The research recognises that many people still face significant barriers in today’s digital society. These challenges include affordability, lack of digital skills, low confidence online, language barriers, disability, social isolation, and limited access to support. As digital services continue to expand rapidly, there is growing concern across the wider digital inclusion sector that emerging technologies, including AI, could deepen existing inequalities if communities are not adequately supported.
One of the strongest messages from the research is that digital inclusion works best when support is rooted within communities. Libraries, schools, charities, housing associations, faith groups, community centres, and grassroots organisations often provide the trusted environments people need to learn, ask questions, and build confidence without fear or judgement.
The research also places strong emphasis on local ecosystems of support. Effective digital inclusion is rarely delivered by one organisation alone. Instead, it depends on collaboration between councils, voluntary organisations, educators, health services, businesses, and community partners working together through referral pathways and shared local strategies.
This local and human-centred approach matters because digital exclusion affects far more than internet access. It impacts employment opportunities, access to healthcare, financial wellbeing, education, civic participation, and social connection. In many cases, digital exclusion can deepen wider social and economic inequalities.
Across the wider digital inclusion movement, there is increasing recognition that digital inclusion should be “baked in, not bolted on.” In practical terms, this means embedding digital inclusion into public services, education, economic development, healthcare, housing, and community planning from the outset rather than treating it as a separate or temporary intervention.
Importantly, the research presents digital inclusion not simply as a technical challenge, but as a long-term social and economic opportunity. When communities are empowered with the right support, partnerships, and resources, digital inclusion can strengthen resilience, increase participation, improve quality of life, and support more inclusive economic growth.
As technology continues to evolve rapidly, the need for trusted community-based support has never been more important. Place-based digital inclusion reminds us that meaningful progress happens not only through technology, but through people, partnerships, and communities working together to ensure that everyone can participate confidently in an increasingly digital world.
Source: Good Things Foundation, “Strengthening Place-Based Digital Inclusion”
Rather than replacing existing programmes or networks, it acts as a:
Real-time insight layer across council-led digital inclusion ecosystems
What This Means in Practice
For London councils and their partners, the toolkit enables:
1. Live Insight Across Networks
Understand what is happening across multiple organisations during delivery—not just after.
2. Stronger Coordination
Bridge the gap between:
Council strategy
Community delivery
3. Support for Frontline Delivery
Equip:
Volunteers
Students
Digital Champions
With simple tools that help them adapt in real time.
4. Consistent, Usable Data
Move towards:
Shared understanding across partners
Comparable insights across programmes
Designed to Strengthen, Not Replace
The toolkit is intentionally designed to complement existing infrastructure, including:
Good Things Foundation networks
Digital Unite models
Local borough partnerships and VCS ecosystems
It does not introduce another layer of reporting.
Instead, it provides: Practical insight during delivery Value for those doing the work Better visibility for those coordinating it
From Reporting to Real-Time Understanding
As councils continue to adopt network-based delivery models, the next step is clear:
Move from retrospective reporting To real-time, evidence-led action
This shift enables:
Faster response to challenges
Improved outcomes for residents
Greater confidence in programme effectiveness
Current Phase and Opportunities
The toolkit is currently in beta, with early engagement from community organisations and sector partners.
We are now exploring opportunities to work with:
London borough councils
Network coordinators
Voluntary and community sector partners
To pilot and refine its application across real-world delivery environments.
Work With IFB Gaming
If you are part of a council, delivery network, or community organisation interested in strengthening digital inclusion through real-time insight, we would welcome a conversation.
Digital inclusion is no longer just about access.
It is about understanding what works—while it is happening—and improving it in the moment.
That is the shift this toolkit is designed to support.
IFB Digital Inclusion Toolkit Featured on Community Southwark | Real-Time Impact Measurement
We are pleased to share that the IFB Digital Inclusion Toolkit has been featured on the Community Southwark website—marking an important step in making the toolkit accessible to Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations across the borough.
This recognition reflects a growing need within the sector: Not just to deliver digital inclusion initiatives, but to understand and improve their impact in real time.
Why This Matters
Across the UK, many organisations are doing vital digital inclusion work. However, they are often supported by tools that:
measure outcomes retrospectively
prioritise reporting over delivery
overlook the needs of those on the front line
The IFB toolkit takes a different approach.
It is designed to:
support live measurement during delivery
provide immediate, practical insight
empower students, volunteers, and community practitioners as active users—not just organisations
By focusing on those delivering the work, the toolkit strengthens the Digital Champion model that underpins much of national digital inclusion delivery.
From Access to Insight
This feature on the Community Southwark platform signals more than visibility, it represents alignment with a shared ambition:
👉 To move from simply delivering support 👉 To understanding what works, as it happens
For local organisations, this means:
stronger evidence for funding
improved service delivery
greater confidence in decision-making
What Happens Next
The toolkit is currently in beta, with ongoing feedback and registrations from users and partners helping to shape its development.
We will continue to:
refine usability and clarity
build real-world case studies
ensure the tool delivers value to those who use it daily
narrow services and opportuinities to location
Explore the Toolkit
You can view the IFB Digital Inclusion Toolkit via Community Southwark here.
Work With Us
If you are a local authority, funder, or organisation interested in advancing digital inclusion through real-time insight and ethical measurement, we would welcome a conversation.
IFB Gaming remains committed to building practical, community-led solutions that not only expand access—but strengthen understanding, participation, and impact.
Across the world, gaming is often viewed primarily as entertainment — a pastime enjoyed by millions of players across consoles, personal computers, and mobile devices. Yet gaming is much more than a form of leisure.
At its core, gaming is a powerful system for learning, participation, and problem-solving.
The same principles that make games engaging — curiosity, challenge, progress, responsive feedback, and collaboration — can also be applied to help communities build confidence, develop digital skills, and participate more fully in an increasingly digital society.
At IFB Gaming, we believe that gaming principles can play an important role in shaping the future of digital inclusion and community empowerment.
Let’s break it down.
The Participation Challenge
Digital inclusion has traditionally focused on three key challenges:
• access to devices and connectivity • digital skills and literacy • confidence using online services
Over the past decade, governments, charities, and community organisations have worked tirelessly to address these barriers. Their efforts have helped millions of people gain access to the internet and develop the skills needed to navigate the digital world.
However, access and skills alone do not guarantee participation.
Many people still feel uncertain, intimidated, or disconnected from digital systems. For some, technology can feel like an unfamiliar environment — one that is difficult to navigate without guidance.
This is where gaming offers an important insight.
Games succeed because they encourage participation rather than demand expertise.
Players are invited to explore, experiment, and progress step by step.
Failure is part of the process, and progress is celebrated.
Learning Through Play
One of the most powerful aspects of gaming is its ability to support learning through play.
Games are designed to introduce new challenges gradually. Players start with simple tasks, build confidence through practice, and unlock more complex challenges as their skills develop.
This structure mirrors effective learning environments.
In digital skills programmes, for example, participants may need to learn how to:
create an email account
engage through chat
navigate online services
recognise online risks
access digital health services
apply for jobs online
When these activities are presented as technical tasks, they can feel intimidating. But when they are structured as missions, levels, or achievements, they become more engaging and motivating.
Gamification — the use of game mechanics in non-game contexts — can therefore transform digital learning into a progressive and confidence-building journey.
Gaming as a Gateway to Digital Confidence
For many people, gaming represents their first interaction with digital environments.
Even simple games introduce players to key digital concepts:
navigating virtual spaces
solving problems
collaborating with others
managing digital systems
These experiences can build confidence that extends far beyond gaming itself.
Young people who play games often develop skills in strategic thinking, communication, and problem-solving. Older adults who explore digital games may gain confidence using devices and navigating digital interfaces.
Gaming can therefore act as a gateway into broader digital participation.
Community Engagement Through Gamification
Beyond individual learning, gaming principles can also strengthen community engagement.
Community programmes often struggle with participation. Workshops, meetings, or training sessions may be valuable but difficult to sustain without ongoing motivation.
Gamification can help address this challenge by introducing elements such as:
challenges and missions
progress tracking
collaborative achievements
recognition and rewards
These elements encourage participants to remain engaged while celebrating progress and shared achievements.
For example, digital skills programmes can introduce learning pathways where participants unlock new levels as they complete training modules. Community challenges can encourage residents to contribute to local initiatives, share knowledge, or participate in digital learning events.
By transforming participation into a shared journey, gamification can help strengthen community bonds and collective motivation.
Gaming in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
As emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence become embedded in everyday digital systems, the need for inclusive approaches to digital learning will only increase.
AI-powered services are already influencing areas such as:
healthcare
education
employment
financial services
information access
Understanding these technologies requires more than basic digital skills. Individuals must develop confidence navigating complex digital environments and questioning automated outputs.
Gaming and gamification can play an important role in supporting this transition.
By creating safe, interactive environments where people can explore technology without fear of failure, gaming can help communities build the confidence needed to engage with emerging technologies.
From Entertainment to Empowerment
Gaming is often misunderstood as a purely recreational activity.
Yet when we examine the underlying mechanics of games — exploration, feedback, collaboration, and progression — we see a powerful framework for human engagement and learning.
When these principles are applied thoughtfully, gaming can support:
digital inclusion
community learning
civic participation
technology confidence
social connection
In this sense, gaming is not simply about entertainment.
It is about empowerment through participation.
The Role of IFB Gaming
At IFB Gaming, our work explores how gaming principles and emerging technologies can support communities in navigating the digital world.
Through initiatives focused on digital inclusion, community learning, and responsible technology engagement, we aim to demonstrate how gaming can become a tool for education, participation, and social impact.
Our work recognises that digital inclusion is not only about providing access to technology.
It is about helping individuals and communities develop the confidence, curiosity, and capability to shape their own digital futures.
Looking Ahead
As society continues to evolve in response to rapid technological change, new approaches to learning and engagement will become increasingly important.
Gaming — with its emphasis on participation, experimentation, and progress — offers a powerful model for how communities can learn and grow together.
By embracing the principles of play, collaboration, and discovery, we can create more inclusive pathways into the digital world.
Because when people feel confident to explore, learn, and participate, they do more than access technology.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming part of everyday digital life.
From search engines and customer service chatbots to healthcare systems, online learning platforms, and workplace tools, AI is quietly shaping how information is delivered and how decisions are made.
For many people, this shift is exciting. AI promises greater efficiency, smarter tools, and new ways of solving complex problems.
But for communities already facing digital barriers, the rise of AI raises an important question:
What happens when digital inclusion moves into the age of artificial intelligence?
Digital Inclusion Has Entered a New Phase
For many years, digital inclusion efforts focused on three core challenges:
• access to devices and connectivity • basic digital skills • confidence using online services
Organisations across the UK and around the world have made enormous progress in helping individuals access the internet and develop the skills needed to participate in a digital society.
However, as AI systems become embedded in digital services, the nature of digital inclusion is beginning to change.
Digital participation will increasingly require people to understand how automated systems generate information, make recommendations, and sometimes make decisions.
This represents a new stage in the digital inclusion journey.
When Digital Services Become AI-Driven
Artificial intelligence is already influencing many services people rely on every day.
Examples include:
automated customer service systems
job recruitment screening tools
recommendation engines on digital platforms
AI-powered educational tools
decision-support systems in healthcare and finance
While these systems can improve efficiency and accessibility, they also introduce new challenges.
Users may not always understand:
where the information is coming from
how decisions are being made
whether an AI-generated answer is reliable
how their personal data is being used
Without the right support, individuals who have recently become digitally included may find themselves facing a new layer of complexity.
The Role of Community Organisations
Community organisations have long played an essential role in supporting digital inclusion.
Libraries, charities, community centres, and local support networks often act as trusted intermediaries between digital systems and the people who use them.
As AI becomes more widespread, these organisations may become equally important in helping communities understand and navigate intelligent technologies.
This could involve helping individuals:
understand what AI tools are and how they work
recognise AI-generated content
verify information produced by automated systems
protect personal data when using AI-powered services
explore how AI might support learning, employment, or creativity
In this sense, community organisations may increasingly act as AI translators — helping people interact confidently with emerging technologies.
AI Literacy as a Community Skill
Just as digital literacy became a key skill over the past decade, AI literacy may soon become equally important.
AI literacy does not require everyone to become a programmer or data scientist.
Instead, it focuses on helping people understand:
what AI can and cannot do
how AI systems learn from data
where bias or errors might occur
how to question and verify automated outputs
This knowledge helps individuals remain informed and confident users of digital systems.
Creating Safe Spaces to Explore AI
One of the most effective ways to support communities in understanding new technologies is through safe, supportive environments where people can explore and ask questions.
Community workshops, digital hubs, and learning programmes can provide opportunities for people to experiment with AI tools while receiving guidance from trusted facilitators.
These environments can help individuals:
explore AI-powered tools without pressure
understand both the opportunities and risks of AI
develop confidence interacting with intelligent systems
see how AI might support everyday tasks
The goal is not simply to promote AI adoption, but to ensure that people can engage with technology critically, safely, and confidently.
Looking Ahead
Artificial intelligence will likely continue to transform many aspects of digital life in the years ahead.
As this transformation unfolds, digital inclusion efforts must evolve alongside it.
Ensuring that communities can understand and navigate AI-powered systems will be essential to maintaining equitable access to digital services and opportunities.
At IFB Gaming, we are interested in exploring how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence intersect with community learning, digital inclusion, and the broader digital society.
The future of digital inclusion may not only be about getting people online.
It may also be about helping people understand the intelligent systems that increasingly shape the online world.
In a world driven by technology, true innovation is not just about creating new tools—it’s about ensuring those tools empower people. Human-focused innovation puts people at the center of problem-solving, ensuring solutions are accessible, inclusive, and impactful. At IFB Gaming, we embody this approach by leveraging gaming and digital inclusion to bridge the technology gap for underserved communities.
The Challenge: Digital Exclusion
Millions worldwide face digital exclusion, lacking access to devices, internet connectivity, and digital literacy. This gap is more than just technological—it’s social and economic. Without digital access, individuals struggle to apply for jobs, access education, or even communicate effectively. This is where human-focused innovation comes into play, ensuring that no one is left behind in an increasingly digital world.
IFB Gaming’s Approach: A Use Case in Action
One of our key initiatives at IFB Gaming is Empowering Futures, where we provide free SIM cards, devices, and digital skills training to refugees, low-income individuals, and those with no recourse to public funds through Community Organisations. This initiative isn’t just about handing out technology—it’s about ensuring people can use it to improve their lives.
Take, for example, Amira, a refugee who arrived in the UK with limited digital skills. Without internet access, she struggled to find housing, apply for jobs, or connect with her family back home. Through our initiative, Amira received a SIM card, free digital literacy training, and guidance on using online job platforms. Within months, she secured a stable job, regained financial independence, and started building a new life. This transformation was possible because the innovation wasn’t just technical—it was human-focused.
The Impact: Technology as an Equalizer
By focusing on people first, we turn technology into an equalizer rather than a barrier. Our work at IFB Gaming demonstrates that gaming, connectivity, and digital literacy can go beyond entertainment; they can drive social change. Whether it’s through digital training, gaming for education, or sustainable tech access, we ensure that innovation works for everyone, not just a privileged few.
Scaling Human-Focused Innovation
The future of technology must be built with people at its core. At IFB Gaming, we are committed to expanding our efforts, collaborating with partners, and creating even more impact-driven solutions that make digital inclusion a reality for all.
Interested in collaborating or supporting our mission? Join us in shaping a more inclusive digital world.
This Christmas, the message of connection has never been more meaningful. Virgin Media O2’s new festive advert, “Snowing SIMs”, captures the spirit of giving by highlighting their incredible SIM card initiative through the National Databank.
At IFB Gaming, we are proud to be part of this inspiring mission, ensuring that no one is left behind in today’s digital world.
Tackling Digital Inclusion through the National Databank
The National Databank is like a foodbank but for mobile data. The National Databank provides free mobile SIM cards for people who can’t access the internet. Read about the National Databank on Good Things Foundation’s website.
Through our membership with the National Databank, IFB Gaming plays a pivotal role in distributing free SIM cards to those most affected by data poverty in London.
Together, we’re not just delivering connectivity—we’re creating opportunities, fostering inclusion, and paving the way for a digitally empowered future.”
Digital inclusion: Free SIM Cards
For many, the festive season is a time of joy and togetherness. But for others, particularly those facing digital exclusion, it can be a stark reminder of isolation.
In London alone, thousands struggle with data poverty, unable to access the internet for vital services, job opportunities, or simply to connect with loved ones.
Through our membership with the National Digital Inclusion Network, IFB Gaming has distributed free SIM cards to those who need them most. This includes individuals on low incomes, refugees, asylum seekers, people with English as a Second Language, British Sign Language Users, and others without recourse to public funds.
These SIM cards provide not just data, but a lifeline to the digital world—a tool to empower and uplift.
The Power of Connection Virgin Media O2’s “Snowing SIMs” campaign beautifully showcases how something as small as a SIM card can make a big difference. Whether it’s supporting someone in applying for a job, participating in an online class, or staying connected with loved ones, this initiative goes beyond technology—it is about creating opportunities, fostering inclusion, and preparing the UK for a future of technological maturity and beyond. Virgin Media O2 is at the forefront, driving this essential and transformative change.
Snowing Sims’ – Christmas Ad by Virgin Media O2
Digital Inclusion: A Mission for London and Beyond
At IFB Gaming, we’ve seen firsthand how access to data transforms lives. London is a city of opportunity, but for many, digital exclusion creates barriers to participation.
By working together with the National Databank and like-minded partners, we’re helping to break down these barriers, one SIM card at a time. Read about our recent “Empowering Futures” and “Winter Data Care” initiative on Community Southwark’s website.
How Can Your Organisation Benefit?
By joining the National Databank, your charity or community organisation can:
Distribute free SIM cards to support those facing digital exclusion.
Help individuals access essential online services, education, and employment opportunities.
Strengthen your community impact with a meaningful, practical solution to data poverty.
Learn new skills and ways of working.
Be part of a National movement focused on eradicating inequalities.
Break the silo walls and connect your voice to National discussions and development.
Future-proof your organisation with member-only events and a knowledge base.
Access the National Device Bank and diversify your funding opportunities.
Why Get Involved?
The National Databank is a simple, effective way to support your community and break down the barriers of digital exclusion.
At IFB Gaming, being part of this initiative has allowed us to connect countless individuals and organisations to life-changing opportunities, and we want to share this opportunity with you.
Get in Touch with IFB Gaming
Need guidance on how to join? Unsure where to start?
IFB Gaming offers consultations to help you understand the process and make the most of this incredible initiative. Together, we can ensure no one in our communities is left behind.
Let’s create a digitally inclusive future—one SIM card at a time. Reach out to us today to learn more about joining the National Databank!
This Christmas, as we embrace the joy of giving, let’s remember the power of connection. Together, we can continue to address digital exclusion and data poverty, ensuring a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
We hope you are doing well, in high spirits and good health. We hope you are looking forward to the holiday as much as we are here at IFB Gaming. IFB Gaming’s work in London Communities has been featured in Community Southwark’s Success Stories – Case Studies.
We are particularly excited about the end-of-year and festive season because we have lots of insights, knowledge and practical and actionable solutions to impart into the New Year.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
