Digital inclusion is a community resilience issue

Access to the internet increasingly shapes how people use healthcare, navigate public services, pursue employment, support learning and maintain relationships. For people without a suitable device, affordable connectivity or the confidence to use digital services, everyday activities can become more difficult.

Winter can intensify these pressures. When household budgets are stretched, staying connected may become harder precisely when people need access to information, support and essential services.

Digital exclusion is not simply a question of whether someone has internet access. Devices, connectivity, digital skills, accessibility, confidence and trusted support all affect whether people can participate meaningfully in a digital society.

This is the principle behind IFB Gaming’s Winter Data Care 2026/27 programme . The initiative aims to bring together devices, connectivity, practical support and community relationships to help address barriers experienced by people at risk of digital exclusion.

Our ambition for Winter Data Care 2026/27

Our immediate objective is to mobilise practical support for people experiencing digital exclusion while building relationships with organisations that can help strengthen delivery and extend the programme’s reach.

The fundraising target and intended reach serve different purposes. The £2,000 target is an initial cash fundraising goal, while the ambition to support 50 people depends on the combined contribution of funding, suitable equipment, connectivity, partner expertise and available delivery resources.

We do not assume that cash donations alone will cover every requirement or that every person will need the same form of support. Needs and appropriate interventions will vary.

Our intention is to combine resources carefully, prioritise practical needs and make clear what the available contributions enable us to deliver.

Read the Winter Data Care 2026/27 programme overview for more information about the initiative.

A proportionate model for corporate participation

Corporate participation does not always need to begin with a large sponsorship package or a lengthy formal agreement. Businesses can contribute in ways that match their resources, internal processes and community investment priorities.

For a local business, that might mean a modest financial contribution or a suitable device donation. For a larger employer, it could mean employee volunteering, connectivity support, technical expertise or a contribution through an existing corporate social responsibility programme.

For foundations and strategic funders, the conversation may focus on a defined programme of activity, a delivery budget, measurable outcomes and an appropriate evaluation approach.

Our intention is to keep the process proportionate. Smaller contributions should not require the same administrative arrangements as a substantial, multi-stage corporate partnership. Where formal agreements or additional due diligence are appropriate, these can be discussed in line with the scale, risks and requirements of the proposed collaboration.

Where partners can make a difference

The initiative offers several potential routes for participation. The appropriate contribution will depend on community needs, delivery capacity and the resources each partner can offer.

Indicative contribution levels and partner recognition

To make participation easier to understand, IFB Gaming proposes the following indicative contribution levels. They provide a starting point for discussion rather than a fixed sponsorship rate card.

These are proposed levels, not confirmed sponsorship packages. Recognition, employee involvement and reporting arrangements would be agreed in advance and depend on IFB Gaming’s capacity, the nature of the contribution and any relevant partner requirements.

Equivalent in-kind support may be considered outside these cash bands. Its value and relevance should be agreed transparently rather than assuming that every donated item has the same value as a cash contribution.

What could a £500 contribution support?

A £500 contribution could help meet a combination of agreed programme costs, depending on the needs identified and other resources available. For example, it might contribute towards connectivity support, preparing donated equipment, practical digital skills activities or community delivery costs.

We will not promise that a particular amount purchases a fixed number of devices or guarantees support for a specified number of people until the relevant costs and delivery arrangements have been established.

Corporate partners should be able to understand the purpose of their contribution and receive an appropriate account of how it was used. Any specific restriction on a contribution should be agreed before it is accepted.

Clear contributions, proportionate reporting

Credible corporate engagement requires clarity about what has been contributed, what activities were delivered and what can reasonably be reported.

IFB Gaming intends to use proportionate reporting that reflects the scale and nature of the support received. Subject to available records and agreed reporting arrangements, this may include:

• Resources received: financial contributions, equipment, connectivity and other in-kind support.
• Activities delivered: the types of support provided and the associated programme activities.
• Reach: the number of people supported, where this can be measured reliably and reported appropriately.
• Learning: feedback and observations that can help improve delivery and inform future work.

We will distinguish between planned activity, completed delivery and intended outcomes. The ambition to support 50 people is a target, not a claim that those outcomes have already been achieved.

Reporting will be proportionate to the contribution and agreed in advance where a partner requires a particular format. Personal information about participants will not be shared simply to demonstrate impact.

From devices to meaningful participation

Providing a device or a data allowance can remove an important barrier, but access alone does not guarantee inclusion. People may also need help setting up a device, using online services, developing digital skills, understanding online safety and building confidence through practice.

IFB Gaming’s wider work reflects this principle. Our From Devices to Impact Digital Inclusion Toolkit is designed to help people and organisations look beyond technology distribution and consider the wider conditions that support digital participation.

The toolkit provides a relevant point of reference for organisations interested in how access, skills, confidence and participation connect. It complements the immediate focus of Winter Data Care rather than replacing the practical support that people may need now.

For businesses and funders, this creates an opportunity to consider both immediate community needs and the wider factors that shape digital inclusion.

An invitation to funders and corporate partners

We welcome conversations with local businesses, larger employers, foundations, public bodies, technology providers and community organisations interested in making a practical contribution to digital inclusion.

For organisations with existing community investment or corporate social responsibility processes, we can begin with an exploratory discussion to understand the organisation’s priorities, available resources and preferred form of involvement.

Where there is a suitable fit, the next step can be a concise partnership brief setting out the proposed activity, contribution, intended outcomes, delivery requirements and reporting approach. More substantial arrangements can be developed according to the partner’s due diligence and governance requirements.

We would welcome discussions about:

• Funding or sponsoring agreed programme activities.
• Donating suitable devices, connectivity or technical resources.
• Providing employee volunteering or specialist expertise.
• Connecting community organisations with relevant support.
• Supporting research, feedback and evaluation.
• Exploring longer-term collaboration where there is a clear fit.

We aim to establish realistic commitments and clear expectations from the outset, with arrangements proportionate to the scale and nature of each contribution.

To begin a conversation, visit IFB Gaming’s Get Involved page or email info@ifbgaming.com.