Free digital training for over 200 people thanks to £40,000 grant
Over 200 people across six neighbourhoods in Birmingham are to get free digital training to help boost their confidence and get vital job-ready skills.
Bournville Village Trust, Free@Last and The Pioneer Group will work together to target 120 older people and 50 working-age adults who are struggling the most to get into work.
Through workshops, mentoring, lending of tablets and outreach work, the Digital Together project will boost people’s confidence online and their employability skills.
It will also help people get safer access to online services, like booking medical appointments or shopping round for money-saving deals, and reduce isolation and loneliness.
As part of the project, Bournville Village Trust, Free@Last and The Pioneer Group will work with 70 young people, training them to become Digital Mentors who can work with and support people in their own communities to get digitally-savvy.
Elaine Li, Community Development and Involvement Manager at Bournville Village Trust, said: “We are really pleased to be working with Free@Last and The Pioneer Group to deliver this project and to have secured a grant from the government’s Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund.
“This first-of-its kind fund will support projects in communities right across the UK including in south, north and east Birmingham through our Digital Together project.
Rachel Perks, Interim Head of Community Regeneration at The Pioneer Group, said: “We are really excited to be working with our partners Bournville Village Trust and Free@Last to deliver this project.
As part of the Digital Together project, Bournville Village Trust will be working with Community Interest Company (CIC) DigiKick to run sessions from Shenley Court Hall community centre.
A Digital Together Coordinator will also set up workshops, a digital lending library and provide one-on-one support.
The Digital Together project will run from January to March 2026 and would not be possible without the support of the Birmingham Anchor Network and the learning partnership of The Pioneer Group, BMET College, BAES and South City College Birmingham.
For more information, please email communityadmin@bvt.org.uk or call Bournville Village Trust’s Community Team on 0300 333 6540.