Driving Digital Inclusion Programme
A service providing families with digital support through access to devices, mobile data and digital skills training.
What is our Digital Inclusion Programme?
The Digital Services Consortium (DSC) is a collective of 12 leading UK-based charities that support disabled children, young people, and their families. Our mission is to close the digital gap that too many disabled individuals face, empowering them to access services, education, and opportunities that can enhance their lives. The participating organisations are: Ambitious about Autism, The Children’s Trust, Contact, Dingley’s Promise, Family Fund, Kids, National Deaf Children’s Society, Rainbow Trust, Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, Sense, WellChild and Whizz Kidz.
The DSC has launched a Digital Inclusion Programme, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and BBC Children in Need. This two-year programme provides over 20,000 disabled children, young people, and their families with the digital skills, equipment, and support they need to navigate the digital world with confidence and ease.
Through the two-year programme, each of the twelve charities will deliver its own bespoke programme of digital support, whilst collectively meeting a growing need and preference for online and hybrid support. By combining services, devices and data, the programme will address a stark inequality of access and ensure the evolution of digital services is user-led.
As part of this consortium’s Digital Inclusion Programme, WellChild is looking to close the gap for families facing digital disadvantage where they can’t fully benefit from technology due to cost, confidence, or accessibility barriers. We can provide families with children with complex medical needs a variety of digital support.
Find out more about the DSC here.
Support we offer for eligible families:
- Access to devices (tablets, laptops and mobile phones)
- Free mobile data
- Free digital support (training, advice and signposting to useful organisations)
Who can apply for support?
Families must have one or more children with complex medical needs as defined in our eligibility statement here.
WellChild supports UK-based families with children or young people with complex medical needs. Children or young people with complex medical needs tend to have two or more long-term and complex medical conditions, which may or may not have a diagnosis. They rely heavily on health services and work with a range of specialities to thrive. Some children we support may have a limited life expectancy, be disabled, or require medical equipment to sustain life. Others may not require equipment but still need a high level of support from health professionals and have a complex medication regime.
Children and young people living with just one of the following conditions and no other complex medical needs are not eligible for WellChild programmes:
- Behavioural disorders e.g. ADHD, ODD etc.
- Mental illnesses e.g. anorexia, depression, Tourette’s syndrome.
- Cancer
- Visual impairment
- Hearing impairment
Who can make a referral?
Professionals and parent carers can make referrals to our service. Complete the referral form below and a member of our team will be in touch soon.
