Digital Inclusion

Introduction

Digital inclusion is about having the access, equipment, connectivity, skills, confidence, and trust needed to take part in the online world. Being online can help people stay connected, manage money, find work, support children and young people, and use health and public services. Digital inclusion therefore affects day-to-day life as well as wider opportunities for education, employment, independence, and wellbeing.

Digital exclusion is rarely caused by one issue alone. Some people do not have a suitable device or reliable internet connection. Others have limited digital skills, low confidence, concerns about safety, or do not yet feel that digital activity is relevant to their lives. These barriers can overlap, and they can be harder to overcome for people who are already experiencing poverty, disability, social isolation, or poor transport links.

In Derbyshire, digital inclusion matters because more services and everyday interactions now assume that people can get online. Improving digital inclusion can help people access information earlier, stay in touch with family and support networks, and make better use of local and national services. It can also help reduce avoidable barriers that contribute to wider inequalities in health and wellbeing.

Why is it important to Population Health?

Digital inclusion is increasingly part of population health because access to digital tools now affects how people find information, book appointments, manage finances, learn, work, and stay connected. When people cannot do these things easily, the effects can go beyond inconvenience. It can increase isolation, reduce access to help, and make everyday tasks harder, slower, and sometimes more expensive.

Groups at greater risk of digital exclusion often overlap with those already facing other disadvantages, including older adults, disabled people, people on low incomes, people with lower educational attainment, people living alone, and those in rural areas. As more services move online, the gap between those who can participate and those who cannot may widen unless support keeps pace with changing service models.

Connectivity, affordability, skills, confidence, and trust all matter. Some households struggle with broadband or mobile coverage, especially in more rural parts of Derbyshire. Others may not be able to afford devices, data, or ongoing subscriptions. Concerns about scams, fraud, and online safety can also discourage people from engaging with digital services, even when infrastructure is available. Taken together, these factors mean digital exclusion can reinforce wider inequalities across health, employment, finances, and social connection.

The Derbyshire Population Health Approach

The Derbyshire Population Health Approach focuses on prevention, population health, evidence-informed practices, causes, and collaboration. It emphasises proactive measures to prevent health issues, tailors interventions to specific populations, incorporates evidence-informed practices, addresses underlying causes, and promotes collaboration for effective action.

When considering the topic of digital inclusion within The Derbyshire Population Health Approach:

Prevention

Prevention in digital inclusion means acting early so that people do not become excluded from information, support, or services as digital delivery expands. This can include improving access to devices and connectivity, offering digital skills support, and building confidence around online safety. Preventative action also means designing services that remain accessible for people who need extra support rather than assuming that everyone can engage online in the same way.

Population

Digital exclusion does not affect all groups equally. Some population groups are more likely to face multiple barriers, including older people, disabled people, carers, people on low incomes, and residents in rural areas where transport and connectivity can both be limited. A population health approach helps identify where these barriers overlap so that support can be targeted more fairly and designed around local need.

Evidence

Evidence for digital inclusion comes from national policy, research on inequalities, local insight, and the experience of services and communities. This evidence helps partners understand what works, where gaps remain, and which groups may be least well served by current approaches. It also supports a more practical understanding of digital exclusion as a wider determinant that affects access to information, care, employment, and day-to-day resilience.

Causes

Digital exclusion is shaped by a combination of structural and personal factors. These include the cost and availability of broadband or mobile data, access to suitable devices, the accessibility of digital platforms, digital literacy, confidence, trust, and service design. Wider factors such as poverty, disability, rurality, language, and social isolation can all increase the risk that people are left behind as more support and communication moves online.

Collaboration

Collaboration is essential because no single organisation can address digital inclusion on its own. Progress depends on shared action across local government, health and care services, the voluntary and community sector, libraries, education, infrastructure partners, and local communities. Working together helps Derbyshire combine practical support, trusted local relationships, and system-wide planning so that people can build the access, skills, and confidence they need.

Latest Derbyshire Data

Gigabit-capable broadband

Premises below 30Mbps

4G coverage

5G coverage

Prevalence Maps of Derbyshire

The maps below illustrate various geographies for Derbyshire. LSOAs and MSOAs are geographical divisions used for statistical purposes, allowing for more detailed analysis of local data. In these maps, you can explore various health indicators and data for Derbyshire, providing valuable insights into the area’s health and wellbeing.

LSOA 2021

Wards

In the top right of the map, you’ll find the ‘Layer Control’ icon. This is an easy way to customise what you see on the map visualisation. Click the ‘Layer Control’ to choose which information is displayed on the map. Pick the indicator that interests you the most, and the map will transform accordingly.

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Slope Index

This chart illustrates the differences in health and lifestyle factors across areas in Derbyshire, from the most deprived (decile 1, red) to the least deprived (decile 10, green). As you move from left to right on the chart (from more deprived to less deprived areas), the line shows whether these factors are becoming more or less common. Essentially, it’s a way to see how living in wealthier or poorer areas affects the prevalence of these factors.

Used internet in last month

Never used the internet

Further Analysis & Assessments

Derbyshire Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) involves a thorough examination of a specific health problem, exploring its causes, consequences, and underlying factors. It combines various data sources, collaboration with stakeholders, and rigorous analysis to generate insights for evidence-informed interventions and policy changes.

More Information & Resources

This section will hold local and national resources related to digital inclusion, including practical support, strategies, guidance, and other materials that help people understand and address barriers to digital access and participation.

Contributors

Andrea Barber, Public Health Practitioner

Ian Stoddart, Digital Derbyshire

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