Digital exclusion always has been an issue, especially for those we work to support at Catch22, but at no time has it had such a profound effect on exacerbating existing social inequalities – through access to education, employment opportunities, or even at its most basic as tool for human interaction and support.
In this event, we looked to discuss the impact of digital poverty on vulnerable children and young people, the lessons we can learn from schemes that are already in place – both from Government and phone companies – as well as tangible ideas for plugging the gaps that are still there.
Our panellists included:
- Saeed Atcha MBE, CEO of Youth Leads UK and Social Mobility Commissioner
- Liz Williams MBE, CEO of FutureDotNow and Social Mobility Commissioner
- Darren Jones MP
- Chris Ashworth, Head of Public Benefit at Nominet
- Jane Reed, Catch22 Education CEO
- Beth Rochford, Partnerships Manager, O2
- Emily Watson, Creative Partner, Hubbub
- Mat Sears, Director of Corporate Affairs – Consumer, BT
- Rosie Blackett, Young People’s Participation and Development Worker, The National House Project
- A young care leaver and member of the Young People’s Benchmarking Forum