Welsh Government Digital Inclusion Programme helps ‘harder to reach’ groups get online / Rhaglen Cynhwysiant Digidol Llywodraeth Cymru’n helpu grwpiau ‘anoddach eu cyrraedd’ i fynd ar-lein

Communities 2.0, the Welsh Government’s Digital Inclusion initiative has supported the creation of three pan-Wales pilot projects which aim to provide ICT support to some of the groups least likely to participate in sessions.

The projects will support Black and Minority Ethnic Communities; care leavers and young people at risk of offending; and people at risk of homelessness.

Communities 2.0 is a Welsh Government programme which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. It is part of the Digital Wales Delivery Plan which aims to see Wales become a digitally inclusive, sustainable society which empowers citizens to be able to take advantage of digital technologies to enhance their quality of life. Initiatives that target harder to reach groups support this aim.

The first pilot project is aimed at Black and Ethnic Minority groups and is led by BAWSO, a national organisation which primarily supports vulnerable women, especially those at risk of domestic abuse. The project will be run in partnership with a number of other organisations including the Welsh Refugee Council, Swansea Bay Regional Equality Council, SEWREC, Race Equality First, Displaced People in Action and City of Sanctuary Swansea. The project will work with each organisation’s existing client groups to encourage them to use digital technology and the internet to access services and opportunities online. Staff and volunteers with each organisation who have the language skills and understand the cultural needs of each group will work with client groups directly to raise their skills and understanding of the internet.

The second pilot is a contribution to an existing partnership ‘Symud Ymlaen’, which works with young care leavers and young people at risk of offending. The pilot element addresses the digital skills of those young people. The partnership is led by Llamau, a registered charity working in Wales to improve the lives of socially excluded, homeless people with partners such as CBSA (Wales) Ltd, Sova, Grwp Ifanc Sengl Di-gartef Arfon and the Construction Youth Trust. ‘Symed Ymlaen’engages NEET 16-18 year old school leavers and young offenders, to enable them to undertake a six month paid, supported work placement. There is a high likelihood of the young people gaining jobs after successful completion of the programme. The Communities 2.0 contribution will focus on the importance of digital skills in the workplace and developing those skills to enable access to formal qualification courses.

The third project, ‘Complex Lives', will address digital inclusion issues for people at risk of homelessness. It brings together four organisations working in this area, the Wallich, Llamau, Gwalia and Pennaf Housing - all of whom have a track record of working with vulnerable and homeless people across large areas of Wales. ‘Complex Lives’ is designed to try different ways of developing digital inclusion approaches to varied user groups who may live in hostels or shared flats in the community. Priorities for supporting this group involve creating enough stability to enable independent living, employment and avoidance of harm. Recent changes in welfare benefits mean that individual digital skills are crucial in supporting that independence.

Minster for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Jeff Cuthbert said:

“Getting hard to reach groups online is essential. More and more services are available online, including those provided by the public sector. We must make sure that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from this new way of delivering services.

“People on low incomes, older and disabled people and those who are not directly engaged with society for various reasons often find themselves excluded because of lack of internet skills and access. This means they can miss out on money advice, jobs and training opportunities, discounts on essential services and even result in them feeling excluded from their own communities. That is why these projects, backed by funding from the European Union, are so important.”

Cathryn Marcus, Communities 2.0 Project Director commented,

“Communities 2.0 is delighted to be able to support specific, targeted interventions aimed at including some of the hardest to reach members of our community. These projects utilise partnership and co-operative approaches to deliver key skills and support to people who can benefit from it most. Computers open the door to so much these days – now’s the time to get online – and we’re here to help”.

Digital Inclusion is essential for these hard to reach groups. More and more services are available online and increasingly local and national government service provision is delivered primarily over the internet. Whilst this is more cost effective and may result in better services for those that can access them the approach can risk excluding the very people who need those services most. People on low incomes, people with disabilities and people who are not directly engaged with society for various reasons often find themselves excluded because of lack of internet skills and access. This means they can miss out on money advice, jobs and training opportunities, discounts on essential services and even result in them feeling excluded from their own communities.

Communities 2.0 was set up by the Welsh Government to help people and communities to make the most of the internet. The aim is to break down the barriers to using technology, to inspire people, build confidence and create opportunities for people across Wales. Further information about Communities 2.0 and its ongoing programme of taster and drop-in sessions is available by calling 0845 474 8282 or for those people who already have access to the internet but require further help, courses and ‘how to’ guides are available on www.communities2point0.org.uk

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Mae menter Cynhwysiad Digidol Llywodraeth Cymru, Cymunedau 2.0, wedi cefnogi creu tri phrosiect peilot ar draws Cymru â’r nod o ddarparu cefnogaeth TGCh i rai o’r grwpiau lleiaf tebygol o gymryd rhan mewn sesiynau.

Bydd y prosiectau’n cefnogi Cymunedau Duon a Lleiafrifol Ethnig; pobl sy’n gadael gofal a phobl ifanc sydd mewn peryg o droseddu; a phobl sydd mewn peryg o ddigartrefedd.

Mae Cymunedau 2.0 yn rhaglen Llywodraeth Cymru a ariennir yn rhannol gan Gronfa Datblygu Rhanbarthol Ewrop. Mae’n rhan o Gynllun Cyflwyno Cymru Ddigidol sydd â’r nod o wneud Cymru’n gymdeithas gynhwysol yn ddigidol a chynaliadwy, sy’n grymuso dinasyddion i allu manteisio ar dechnolegau digidol er mwyn gwella’u safon byw. Mae mentrau sy’n targedu grwpiau anoddach eu cyrraedd yn cefnogi’r nod hwn.

Mae’r prosiect peilot cyntaf wedi’i anelu at grwpiau Duon a Lleiafrifol Ethnig dan arweiniad BAWSO, sefydliad cenedlaethol sy’n cefnogi menywod agored i niwed yn bennaf, yn arbennig y rheini sydd mewn peryg o gael eu cam-drin yn y cartref. Bydd y prosiect yn cael ei gynnal mewn partneriaeth â nifer o sefydliadau eraill gan gynnwys Cyngor Ffoaduriaid Cymru, Cyngor Cydraddoldeb Rhanbarthol Bae Abertawe, Cydraddoldeb Hiliol De-ddwyrain Cymru, Race Equality First, Alltudion ar Waith a Dinas Noddfa Abertawe. Bydd y prosiect yn gweithio gyda grwpiau cleientiaid presennol pob sefydliad er mwyn eu hannog i ddefnyddio technoleg ddigidol a’r rhyngrwyd i gael mynediad at wasanaethau a chyfleoedd ar-lein. Bydd staff a gwirfoddolwyr ymhob sefydliad sydd â’r sgiliau iaith ac sy’n deall anghenion diwylliannol pob grŵp, yn gweithio gyda grwpiau cleientiaid yn uniongyrchol i wella’u sgiliau a’u dealltwriaeth o’r rhyngrwyd.

Mae’r ail gynllun peilot yn cyfrannu at bartneriaeth bresennol, sef ‘Symud Ymlaen’, sy’n gweithio gyda phobl ifanc sy’n gadael gofal a phobl ifanc sydd mewn peryg o droseddu. Mae elfen y cynllun peilot yn ymdrin â sgiliau digidol y bobl ifanc hynny. Mae’r bartneriaeth hon dan arweiniad Llamau, elusen gofrestredig sy’n gweithio yng Nghymru i wella bywydau pobl ddigartref sydd wedi’u heithrio’n gymdeithasol, gyda phartneriaid megis Canolfan Busnes a Gweithredu Cymdeithasol (Cymru) Cyf, Sova, Grŵp Ifanc Sengl Digartref Arfon a’r Construction Youth Trust. Mae ‘Symud Ymlaen’ yn cysylltu â phobl ifanc nad ydynt mewn addysg, cyflogaeth na hyfforddiant 16-18 oed sy’n gadael yr ysgol a throseddwyr ifanc, er mwyn eu galluogi i gael lleoliad gwaith gyda chefnogaeth a thâl am chwe mis. Mae tebygolrwydd mawr y bydd y bobl ifanc yn cael swyddi ar ôl gorffen y rhaglen yn llwyddiannus. Bydd cyfraniad Cymunedau 2.0 yn canolbwyntio ar bwysigrwydd sgiliau digidol yn y gweithle a datblygu’r sgiliau hynny er mwyn rhoi mynediad i gyrsiau cymhwyster ffurfiol.

Bydd y trydydd prosiect, ‘Bywydau Cymhleth’, yn ymdrin â materion cynhwysiant digidol ar gyfer pobl sydd mewn peryg o ddigartrefedd. Mae’n tynnu ynghyd pedwar sefydliad sy’n gweithio yn y maes hwn, sef Wallich, Llamau, Grŵp Gwalia a Tai Pennaf. Mae gan bob un o’r rhain hanes o weithio gyda phobl agored i niwed a digartref ar draws ardaloedd eang yng Nghymru. Bwriad ‘Bywydau Cymhleth’ yw ceisio ffyrdd gwahanol o ddatblygu ymagweddau cynhwysiant digidol i amrywiaeth o grwpiau defnyddwyr a allai fod yn byw mewn hostelau neu fflatiau a rennir yn y gymuned. Mae blaenoriaethau cefnogi’r grŵp hwn yn cynnwys creu digon o sefydlogrwydd i alluogi byw’n annibynnol, cyflogaeth ac osgoi niwed. Mae newidiadau diweddar i fudd-daliadau lles yn golygu bod sgiliau digidol unigol yn hollbwysig wrth gefnogi’r annibyniaeth honno.

Dywedodd y Gweinidog dros Gymunedau a Threchu Tlodi, Jeff Cuthbert:

“Mae’n hanfodol cael y grwpiau anodd eu cyrraedd ar-lein. Mae nifer gynyddol o wasanaethau ar gael ar-lein, gan gynnwys y rheini a ddarperir gan y sector cyhoeddus. Rhaid i ni sicrhau bod gan bawb y cyfle i elwa ar y ffordd newydd hon o ddarparu gwasanaethau.

“Mae pobl ar incwm isel, pobl hŷn ac anabl a’r rheini nad ydynt wedi’u cysylltu’n uniongyrchol â’r gymdeithas am amryw resymau’n aml yn cael eu heithrio oherwydd diffyg sgiliau a mynediad i’r rhyngrwyd. Golyga hyn y gallant fethu cyngor ar arian, cyfleoedd am swyddi a hyfforddiant, gostyngiadau ar wasanaethau hanfodol a hyd yn oed arwain atynt yn teimlo’u bod wedi’u heithrio o’u cymunedau’u hunain. Dyna pam mae’r prosiectau hyn, a gefnogir gan arian yr Undeb Ewropeaidd, mor bwysig.”

Dywedodd Cathryn Marcus, Cyfarwyddwr Prosiect Cymunedau 2.0:

“Mae’n bleser gan Cymunedau 2.0 gefnogi ymyriadau penodol, wedi’u targedu, gyda’r nod o gynnwys rhai o aelodau anoddaf eu cyrraedd ein cymuned. Mae’r prosiectau hyn yn defnyddio ymagweddau partneriaeth a chydweithredol i gyflwyno sgiliau allweddol a chefnogaeth i bobl a all elwa arnynt fwyaf. Mae cyfrifiaduron yn agor drws i gymaint yn y byd sydd ohoni – nawr yw’r amser i fynd ar-lein – rydym yma i’ch helpu.”

Mae cynhwysiant digidol yn hanfodol ar gyfer y grwpiau anodd eu cyrraedd hyn. Mae nifer gynyddol o wasanaethau ar gael ar-lein a chyflwynir darpariaeth gwasanaethau llywodraeth leol a chenedlaethol yn gynyddol ar y rhyngrwyd yn bennaf. Er bod hyn yn fwy cost-effeithiol ac yn gallu arwain at wasanaethau gwell ar gyfer y rheini all gael mynediad atynt, gall yr ymagwedd beryglu eithrio’r union bobl y mae angen y gwasanaethau hynny arnynt fwyaf. Mae pobl ar incwm isel, pobl ag anableddau a’r bobl nad ydynt wedi’u cysylltu’n uniongyrchol â’r gymdeithas am amryw resymau’n aml yn cael eu heithrio oherwydd diffyg sgiliau a mynediad at y rhyngrwyd. Golyga hyn eu bod yn methu cyngor ar arian, cyfleoedd am swyddi a hyfforddiant, gostyngiadau ar wasanaethau hanfodol a hyd yn oed arwain atynt yn teimlo’u bod wedi’u heithrio o’u cymunedau’u hunain.

Sefydlwyd Cymunedau 2.0 gan Lywodraeth Cymru er mwyn helpu pobl a chymunedau i fanteisio i’r eithaf ar y rhyngrwyd. Y nod yw chwalu’r rhwystrauo ran defnyddio technoleg, ysbrydoli pobl, magu hyder a chreu cyfleoedd i bobl ledled Cymru. Mae rhagor o wybodaeth am Cymunedau 2.0 a’i rhaglen barhaus o sesiynau blasu a galw heibio ar gael trwy ffonio 0845 474 8282 neu i’r sawl sydd â mynediad at y rhyngrwyd eisoes ond sydd angen cymorth pellach, mae cyrsiau a chanllawiau ‘sut i...’ ar gael ar www.communities2point0.org.uk