Keeping communities connected when it matters most
Winter Data Care is IFB Gaming’s seasonal digital inclusion programme providing connectivity, devices, digital confidence support, and trusted community access points for people most at risk of digital exclusion during the winter period.
Our ambition for 2026–2027 is to strengthen community resilience by ensuring that no one is forced offline at the point when access to healthcare, benefits, education, employment, and family support becomes most critical.
The challenge
Access to the internet is no longer optional. It is essential for managing daily life, from booking healthcare appointments and accessing public services to supporting children’s learning, searching for work, and staying connected to family and community networks.
Yet winter intensifies digital inequality. As household costs rise, connectivity is often one of the first things sacrificed. This leaves many individuals and families cut off from the very services and relationships they depend on most.
Our position
Winter digital exclusion is not a seasonal inconvenience. It is a community resilience issue. Winter Data Care responds by combining connectivity, devices, support, and local trust infrastructure in one coordinated programme model.
What the programme provides
Connectivity support
Free or subsidised data, SIM-based connectivity support, and practical access routes for residents experiencing digital poverty.
Devices and refurbished technology
Access to donated or refurbished laptops, smartphones, and other digital tools where available through trusted partner pathways.
Community Data Waypoints
Local, trusted spaces where residents can receive support with connectivity, devices, and access to essential online services.
Digital confidence support
Practical workshops, one-to-one guidance, and community-based learning that help people use digital tools safely and with greater confidence.
Who we prioritise
Winter Data Care is designed to reach people for whom winter deepens existing digital exclusion. Priority groups include:
- Low-income households experiencing digital poverty
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- Older residents at risk of isolation
- Families struggling with rising living costs
- Individuals with low digital confidence or limited access to support
- Residents whose access to services increasingly depends on online systems
Why the model works
Winter Data Care is built on the principle that digital inclusion works best when delivered through trusted local relationships rather than stand-alone technology distribution.
Our model combines:
- Access — data and devices where they are most needed
- Support — practical help from trusted community intermediaries
- Confidence — learning and guidance that reduce dependence and fear
- Resilience — stronger local systems that can respond beyond winter alone
2026–2027 programme ambition
For the 2026–2027 winter period, IFB Gaming is seeking to deepen and scale the programme through stronger delivery partnerships, better community reach, and clearer evidence of impact.
What partners and funders make possible
Winter Data Care is designed to be collaborative. Support from funders, local authorities, telecom partners, device donors, and community organisations enables the programme to deliver practical value where it is most needed.
- Broader reach into digitally excluded communities
- More consistent seasonal connectivity support
- Improved access to devices and local guidance
- Stronger data, learning, and community insight
- A more resilient and locally rooted digital inclusion infrastructure
Work with us
Whether you are a funder, community organisation, local authority, donor, volunteer, or delivery partner, there are multiple ways to support Winter Data Care 2026–2027.
Together we can ensure that digital connection, confidence, and access remain available during the hardest months of the year.