Nominet has donated £10,000 to help the Wilberforce Trust drive digital inclusion across York and North Yorkshire.
Nominet member, Jonathan Irvine, Managing Director at Designition Ltd nominated the Wilberforce Trust for funding through the Members’ GiveHub.
We’re delighted to have donated these funds to help people with sight and hearing loss access digital inclusion services.
“This very generous donation will have a major impact on our beneficiaries who have sight and/or hearing loss”
– Anne Parkinson, Bids Manager at the Wilberforce Trust
Here’s how the Wilberforce Trust is helping beneficiaries stay connected, access essential services, and improve their financial health and employability.
Hosting digital inclusion classes to teach vital digital skills
Some of the funding will go towards running digital inclusion classes providing valuable support through digital groups and one-to-one sessions.
Areas covered by these sessions will include:
- Using devices confidently – like smartphones, tablets, laptops and computers
- Connecting to the internet and others
- Navigating the web, including social media, safely
- Completing everyday tasks online
- Connecting with the local community, family and friends
- Accessing support networks
- Managing finances, paying bills and saving money online – securely
- Finding opportunities for education
Through these digital classes, the charity aims to help people with sight, hearing loss and other disabilities feel confident online. The classes will also help to ensure they’re able to access essential services, resources and education to increase social inclusion.
“Now, thanks to the grant from Nominet, we can provide a supportive environment to reduce social isolation”
– Anne Parkinson, Bids Manager, Wilberforce Trust
Improving accessibility online and across social media
The charity will also be using the funding to improve accessibility across its website and social media through staff training. This will provide a better experience to users with sight and hearing loss when navigating online – making it easier to access support.
The charity aims to bring its website to life using handy hints and videos for all its services, improving accessibility. This will include people who communicate using British Sign Language (BSL).
Methods will include onscreen BSL interpretation, audio and screen readers – benefitting people who can’t see or hear well/at all.
The sign language interpretations will offer a far more inclusive experience to the Deaf community, and reach a wider audience.
Establishing a digital book club that’s accessible for all
Finally, the Wilberforce Trust will leverage a portion of the donated funds to establish a virtual book club. This will be made accessible for those with sight and hearing loss – connecting people who might otherwise be socially isolated.
The club will connect like-minded people and foster a sense of belonging among those with sight and hearing loss. Most importantly, the club will provide a platform for those with disabilities to share their experiences in a safe space.
The charity will kick-start the digital book club by using an accessible audiobook about the Wilberforce Trust. This will generate publicity and raise awareness about the group to encourage uptake. The book will also spread the word about the charity and encourage more people to access its digital inclusion services.
Lastly, the audiobook will document The Yorkshire School for the Blind’s history (where the Wilberforce Trust started in 1833). The school pioneered the education of blind children so that they could earn an independent living as adults. It has since grown into a charity that helps people with sight/ hearing loss and other disabilities including sensory loss. The audiobook will provide important representation and help to educate people and change perceptions relating to disability and identity.
Want to make a difference to a charity or organisation that matters to you?
Are you a Nominet member? Want to make a positive difference in your community?
Our GiveHub allows you to apply for up to £10,000 in funding per financial year on behalf of an eligible organisation. The funds can be used for projects aligned to our commitment to making the world more connected, inclusive and secure.
“We were so pleased to be supported by Nominet Member Jonathan who facilitated our application to the Nominet Members’ GiveHub. Thank you so much Jonathan. The application process was appropriately thorough and the support we received from Olivia, at Nominet, was unsurpassable and assisted greatly with our success through the process.”
– Anne Parkinson, Bids Manager, Wilberforce Trust
Simply log into your Member Hub account to apply for funding for your chosen charity or organisation. We’ll be in touch if we need more information to support your application.
The Members’ GiveHub panel, made up of volunteer members, review applications monthly with support from our Membership Engagement team.
Ready to make a difference to a UK charity or organisation that matters to you? Contact membersgivehubenquiries@nominet.uk to find out more today.
Images provided by the Wilberforce Trust