New scheme to help 1,500 Liverpool City Region residents get online

A new initiative is to help 1,500 digitally excluded Liverpool City Region residents get online. Backed by £325,000 from the Government's Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund, the:- 'Login LCR' scheme will enable the Combined Authority and 50 consortium partners to provide residents with a free digital device, 6 months of Vodafone Connectivity and in-person digital skills training.

The scheme will run between:- January and March 2026 and builds on the success of the Combined Authority's previous public-private sector:- 'Digital Inclusion Initiative' that enabled more than 5,500 people to get online.

A series of:- 'Login LCR Roadshow Events' will also be hosted from January to March next year in each of the Liverpool City Region's 6 local authority areas, allowing individuals to access drop-in digital support alongside other organisations such as:- financial institutions, the NHS, voluntary sector and local authority services.

Cllr Liam Robinson, Liverpool City Region Cabinet Member for Innovation, said:- "Digital inclusion isn't just about providing access to technology; it's about empowering people with the tools to change their lives. Through our Digital Inclusion Initiative, over 5,500 residents can now connect to jobs, education, healthcare, and stay in touch with loved ones. It's already having a real impact across our communities and proved to Government that we know how to tackle digital exclusion. I'm proud that, working with our partners, and thanks to the Government's Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund, we're now able to build on that success to get even more people online. And this is only the start. We're committed to closing the digital divide and creating a future where no 1 is left behind."

Strategic partners in the programme include VodafoneThree, who have contributed 1,500 SIM cards as in kind support.  The programme will support individual's awareness of digital services, support economically inactive and unemployed residents and improve digital literacy.

Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer, VodafoneThree, said:- "Digital connectivity is becoming increasingly significant, as technology evolves and digital skills are ever more essential for everyday life. We're proud to work with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and over 50 local partners to deliver free connectivity and hands-on digital skills training, helping residents not just get online, but build the confidence to stay connected and thrive in a digital world."

Login LCR is supported through the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund, a national programme led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), aimed at identifying and scaling up innovative approaches to tackling digital exclusion. It supports projects that improve access to devices, connectivity, and digital skills yearparticularly for those most at risk of being left behind.

Digital inclusion means all individuals and communities have access to, and can effectively use, digital technologies. It also bridges the digital divide, which is the gap between:- those who have access to and know how to use digital technologies, and those who don't.

The Liverpool City Region Digital Inclusion Network, led by the Combined Authority, is committed to providing equal opportunities and resources for individuals to access and engage in modern digital life. Working across 270 organisations, the network brings together providers supporting residents online and tackling the digital divide.

Those experiencing:- 'digital exclusion' are often also affected by factors such as:- deprivation, labour market status or protected characteristics. These are further compounded by issues such as increases to cost of living and wider economic contraction.

The levels of multiple deprivation in the City Region play a part in higher levels of poverty experienced by residents than elsewhere in the UK.  More than a 3rd of our neighbourhoods are in the top 10% most deprived nationally, significantly higher than all other Combined Authorities.

This impacts access to services, education, health, housing and income. With this deprivation, digital deprivation is a common crossover factor.

Digital inclusion is crucial for reducing inequalities, promoting economic growth, and empowering individuals and communities. It enables people to access educational resources, job opportunities, healthcare services, Government services, and other benefits that are increasingly available online.

Increasing digital inclusion can help create equitable and connected communities.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology estimates there are over 125,000 digitally excluded working-age individuals in the City Region with no access to the internet.  And, according to the Lloyds Bank Consumer Digital Index, over 25% of residents in Liverpool City Region lack the essential digital skills needed for everyday life. These skills include being able to communicate online, manage information safely, transact securely, and solve problems using digital tools.

Find out more about digital inclusion in LCR at:- HelpingYouOnline.Co.UK.

£500,000 to tackle inequality in education across Liverpool City Region

LIVERPOOL City Region Combined Authority has secured £500,000 to tackle inequality in Early Years education. The investment heralds a new partnership with the Fair Education Alliance (FEA); a national coalition of 300 organisations, including 60 across the City Region, supported by Bloomberg.

The investment was announced on:- 8 December 2025, at the Fair Education Summit at London's Science Museum. It will help improve the education and job prospects of children from low income backgrounds, who are currently 10 months behind their peers by the end of Primary School.

Together with local authorities and the FEA, the Combined Authority will design a series of initiatives aimed at ensuring every child is given the opportunity to succeed.

The measures will build on the pioneering work across the City Region, supporting Schools and Colleges and improving access to skills and employment.

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Liverpool City Region, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said:- "Every child deserves the best start in life, no matter where they grow up or how much their parents earn. By working with the Fair Education Alliance, we're taking another step towards creating a fairer, more inclusive education system that gives every young person the chance to reach their potential. This funding will help us build on the work we're already doing to give every child the best start in life, helping us to scale up our Early Years initiatives and do even more to close the gap for children from disadvantaged backgrounds."

Gina Cicerone, Co-CEO of the Fair Education Alliance, said:- "The challenges facing children in the Liverpool City Region demand urgent, collective action. That's why this partnership places collaboration and innovation at its heart; working with Alliance members, Metro Mayors and communities to create long-term change. We can't wait to work together so every child has the best start in life. Thanks to the support given by Bloomberg and other funding partners, we can connect neighbourhood to national and build a fairer future for every child in the Liverpool City Region."

Jemma Read, Global Head of Corporate Philanthropy, Bloomberg, said:- "Bloomberg is committed to expanding opportunities for young people, and the Neighbourhood to National Strategy reflects the kind of place based leadership needed to drive lasting change. We're proud to support the Fair Education Alliance and work alongside Mayors who are championing better outcomes for children and young people in the communities that need it most."

The Combined Authority is 1 of 3 Collaboration Partners selected by the FEA as part of its £6 million Neighbourhood to National strategy, which is supported by Bloomberg. A study by the Social Metrics Commission found 1 in three children in the UK are growing up in poverty.

The strategy outlines a plan to create new collective initiatives to narrow the inequality gap and ensure that children are not limited by their socioeconomic background.

As part of the funding award, 3 mayoral authorities were announced as Collaboration Partnerships, aimed at uniting Government, Schools, businesses and young people in the design and delivery of community based initiatives.

The partnerships will test and scale initiatives that drive lasting change in three key areas: Early Years, literacy and future job skills.

The Combined Authority will focus on Early Years, harnessing its devolved powers and expertise in skills and employability, and building on its pioneering work in the sector.

This year, the CA has invested £615,000 in Skills Bootcamps for Early Years, to create 270 new opportunities through Accelerated Apprenticeships, and repurposed £1.3m of unused.

Apprenticeship Levy funds to create 184 apprenticeships. Working with local authorities, colleges, training providers and national bodies, the CA has developed innovative solutions to improve School readiness and support families; from bridging courses for Level 3 Early Years qualifications to sector-based work pilots now rolled out nationally.

In 2023, the CA invested £5.25m in Cradle to Career, a ground-breaking initiative which tackles inequality in families across the City Region's most deprived areas. It has significantly improved literacy standards among children and was named Collaborative Initiative of the Year at last year's Institute of Economic Development Awards.

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