Yorkshire and Humber is leading the UK in the deployment of next-generation access (NGA) fibre broadband in South Yorkshire’s Digital Region development. In addition to industry investments, the region also has NYnet in North Yorkshire and now NorthernNet, a secure high speed network for creative and digital industry clusters across the North. The challenge for the region is to extend and exploit these opportunities.

Digital 20/20 is working with industry and public sector partners to bring investment into the region and develop new approaches for maximising digital participation. Different strands of activity are outlined below.

Digital 20/20 facilitated a successful bid to the European Social Fund to develop Digital Outreach Trainers and develop new localised literacy materials in South Yorkshire. The Making IT Personal - Joining the DOTs project is now up and running, sharing experiences with partners in Germany and Malta.

Technology can help to engage and give life chances to those Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). Too often, imaginative projects with good results run for short periods and funding is discontinued. Digital 20/20 is looking at how to integrate use of technology into mainstream NEETs work.

Technology can also help to enrich public services and communities, giving individuals a better quality of life as a result. With leaders of Local Government services and Local Strategic Partnerships, Digital 20/20 is helping to develop ideas for how to frame community-wide digital strategies for connecting citizens to public services and to each other.

At grass roots level, Digital 20/20 has been spearheading a movement with voluntary and community sector partners to run social media surgeries across Yorkshire and Humber to empower those in community.

Members of the Digital 20/20 Team regularly participate in conference and meetings to contribute ideas on all of the above issues.