Advertisement
In association with O2

Changemakers 2022: Digital inclusion

These are the Changemakers fighting to make sure everyone is included in the digital world and breaking down barriers for vulnerable people.

In association with O2

Every year, The Big Issue takes the time to remember the triumphs of our Changemakers, the people who selflessly dedicate their time to making the world a little bit better. We want to celebrate the Changemakers and thank them for all that they do.

In the ever-advancing technological age, while many of us have mobile phones in our pockets, not everyone has access to computers, smart devices or WiFi.

These are the Changemakers fighting to make sure everyone is included in the digital world and breaking down barriers for vulnerable people.

Campaigners against voter ID 

When Neil Coughlan went to vote at a local government election in 2019, he was asked to show photo ID. Since then, he has been working on a legal challenge against the government’s plans to introduce voter ID as part of the Elections Bill 2021-22. Coughlan, who lives in Witham, Essex, and doesn’t own a passport or driving licence, thinks the plans are “dangerous” and threaten democracy. 

He said: “I feel that these measures will unfairly discriminate against not only myself, but also others in a similar position across the district and beyond, who are unable to provide with the same ease, identification that ministers and civil servants take for granted and naively think we all possess.”

An estimated 3.5 million voters (7.5 per cent of the electorate) do not have any photo ID. Once Coughlan has raised £80,000 in legal fees, expect to see him take the case to the Supreme Court in 2022. 

Advertisement
Advertisement

Meanwhile politics graduates Freddie Mallinson and Jack McAteer set up Hands Off Our Vote. The duo believe the government should be making it easier for everyone to participate in elections, not harder. One of the reasons so many people don’t have any form of photo ID is that they cost money to buy. Mallinson and McAteer are campaigning to convince MPs to rethink voter IDs so that everyone can continue to participate in democracy.  

This social change charity is on a mission to end data poverty with a vision of everyone benefiting from digital connection. Covid has exposed and exacerbated the digital divide, which sees those without mobile data locked out of essential services and support, jobs, savings, health and wellbeing – even staying in touch with loved ones.

Good Things Foundation 

The Good Things Foundation has been working with Virgin Media O2 to distribute more data and is campaigning to get others in the industry on board. Each year the charity runs a digital inclusion campaign called Get Online Week. 

Article continues below

Being Woman  

This non-profit set up a Response and Resilience Fund to help families not only struggling with Covid restrictions, but unable to feed their families. The charity was supplying food boxes to those most in need. After being awarded a grant from Good Things Foundation, the team set up a 24-hour accessible digital platform, and realised that an app would make the process easier for everyone.

Their vision was for families ordering food or supplies, volunteers collecting and packing food parcels, or staff maintaining the records to be just a click away from each other. The app is due to be launched in 2022. 

Third Sector Lab 

Digital inclusion doesn’t just mean making sure disadvantaged people can benefit from technology, but ensuring people working in charity and support services can make the best of it too. Digital strategy and design for organisations doing good is Third Sector Lab’s bread and butter.

As well as creating websites and social media campaigns for the third sector the organisation, founded by Ross McCulloch, trains staff and volunteers to embrace the digital world in their fight to lift people out of hardship. It’s a cause which will only grow in importance in 2022 with more of public life moving online. 

Check out our other Changemakers for 2022 here.

This article is taken from The Big Issue magazine out this week. Support your local vendor by buying today!

If you cannot reach your local vendor, you can still click HERE to subscribe to The Big Issue today or give a gift subscription to a friend or family member. You can also purchase one-off issues from The Big Issue Shop or The Big Issue app, available now from the App Store or Google Play.

Advertisement

Support the Big Issue

For over 30 years, the Big Issue has been committed to ending poverty in the UK. In 2024, our work is needed more than ever. Find out how you can support the Big Issue today.
Vendor martin Hawes

Recommended for you

Read All
This man let 12 strangers give £100,000 of his money away. Governments should follow suit
Philanthropy

This man let 12 strangers give £100,000 of his money away. Governments should follow suit

Housing estate plagued by mould, damp and dire conditions. Now, residents are fighting back
tower hamlets
Housing

Housing estate plagued by mould, damp and dire conditions. Now, residents are fighting back

'He's like a caged animal in the flat': Meet the parents fighting for an adult social care revolution
Parents and children take part in a sensory parachute exercise at Linden Farm
Social care

'He's like a caged animal in the flat': Meet the parents fighting for an adult social care revolution

Big Issue founder John Bird celebrates vendors at House of Lords – and vows to help end destitution
National Vendor Week

Big Issue founder John Bird celebrates vendors at House of Lords – and vows to help end destitution

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue