The Crumbs Project actively participates in programme to reach and provide support to some of the most vulnerable and digitally excluded people in the UK
One of nine UK organisations selected by Good Things Foundation to participate in the Power Up 2.0 programme supported by JPMorganChase, The Crumbs Project carried out impressive activity which resulted in reaching and providing support to some of the most vulnerable and digitally excluded people in the country – one of the programme’s most notable achievements.
A trainee holds a digital tablet in the training laundry at The Crumbs Project
Power Up is a model for embedding digital inclusion support within existing employability and financial health support. Nine members of the National Digital Inclusion Network were chosen to participate in the Power Up 2.0 programme between March 2022 and April 2024. This aimed to use digital skills support help people achieve longer-term outcomes around employment or to maximise and stabilise their financial health. The majority of people supported through the programme were unemployed, socially inactive or unable to work and in receipt of benefits.
For The Crumbs Project, a small disability training charity based in Bournemouth, Power Up 2.0 catalysed the creation of a programme of digital skills training units. Janet Miller, Digital Skills Trainer at The Crumbs Project, led the development and delivery of the training programme which includes eLearning modules specifically designed to be accessible for people with learning disabilities.
Digital PATHS at The Crumbs Project catalyses the digital inclusion of adults with disabilities, neurodivergences, or mental health conditions through person-centric digital skills training which can often be through small incremental steps which add up to making a big difference in their lives.
Through our experiences of supporting digital skills training for adults with disabilities [through Power Up 2.0], we have learnt about the importance of assessing each individual’s level of understanding and not making assumptions about their knowledge. Despite all of the beneficiaries of our programme having disabilities, they are all different and there’s considerable variation in the level of understanding and speed of uptake of digital skills training.
The Crumbs Project, Power Up 2.0 Grantee
The outcomes from over 1,900 total participants in the Power Up 2.0 programme across the UK included:
77% of people improved their ability to stay safe online
70% progressing towards work
67% feeling financially better off.
Recognising the work of The CRUMBS Project to advocate for the rights of disadvantaged adults to receive the support they need to become more digitally and socially included, the Internet Service Provider Association (ISPA) awarded the charity the ISPA Best Digital Inclusion for Charities & Communities Award 2024.
The Crumbs Project’s Head of Operations, Lee Whalley, and Digital Skills Trainer, Janet Miller, accept the ISPA award from Helen Milner, Group Chief Executive of Good Things Foundation and Comedian, Mark Watson.
Visit The Crumbs Project’s You Tube channel for a behind the scenes look at how the charity promotes digital inclusion:
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