Digital inclusion and skills training
Case reference FOI2026/02339
Received 28 September 2026
Published 21 October 2026
Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to please request information regarding digital inclusion and skills training for older residents within your local authority area. Please provide the following information for the last two financial years 2024/25 and 2025/26:
1. The total amount of funding allocated by the council to digital inclusion or digital skills programmes specifically aimed at residents aged 60 and over.
2. The number of residents aged 60 and over supported through these programmes.
3. A brief description of the digital skills support provided to residents aged 60 and over, including the types of training or assistance available. For example, this could include:
- Using smartphones, tablets or computers
- Accessing online public services
- Using email, video calls or social media
- Online banking or shopping
- Staying safe online and recognising scams
- General internet or digital skills
Please provide the information broken down by financial year, if possible.
Where the council provides digital inclusion support to residents of all ages but does not separately record information for those aged 60 and over, please confirm this.
If the information is already publicly available, please provide a link or reference to where it can be accessed. If any part of this request requires clarification or if any aspect cannot be provided, please let me know, and I will be happy to assist.
Response
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to please request information regarding digital inclusion and skills training for older residents within your local authority area.
Please provide the following information for the last two financial years
2024/25 and
2025/26:
1. The total amount of funding allocated by the council to digital inclusion or digital skills programmes specifically aimed at residents aged 60 and over.
Answer: £0, the service area has advised that provision is not specifically aimed at residents aged 60 and over.
2. The number of residents aged 60 and over supported through these programmes.
Answer: The service area has advised that 20.2% of learners aged 60 and over attended digital skills programmes over the 2 financial years.
3. A brief description of the digital skills support provided to residents aged 60 and over, including the types of training or assistance available. For example, this could include:
- Using smartphones, tablets or computers
- Accessing online public services
- Using email, video calls or social media
- Online banking or shopping
- Staying safe online and recognising scams
- General internet or digital skills
Answer: The service area has advised the courses funded would have touched on all the above as part of the programmes, plus the service area has supported courses specifically related to ICT for employment, i.e. submitting online applications, building CVs, etc.
Please provide the information broken down by financial year, if possible.
Where the council provides digital inclusion support to residents of all ages but does not separately record information for those aged 60 and over, please confirm this.
Please note, digital inclusion support is provided to residents of all ages, while we do not provide courses specifically for learners aged 60+, we can report on these cohorts.
If the information is already publicly available, please provide a link or reference to where it can be accessed.
If any part of this request requires clarification or if any aspect cannot be provided, please let me know, and I will be happy to assist.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.