Preston City Council has announced it is joining the new Preston Digital Cooperative (PDC) inclusion initiative for the city.
The move has received approval from full council and will involve the deployment of infrastructure including areas of free Wi-Fi and support for the development of digital skills.
The council said the cooperative is being set up as a way of bringing together public, voluntary and private sector organisations to improve access to connectivity, devices and skills for digitally excluded people.
It will use UK Shared Prosperity Fund money, provided by the Ministry of Housing and Local Communities, to provide free connectivity in some areas, along with refurbished devices and digital skills training.
Leading by example
Cllr Matthew Brown, leader at Preston City Council, said: "As a growing number of its own services are now digitally based, it is important that the council leads by example.
“The work of the Preston Digital Cooperative will help to tackle the digital divide and improve digital inclusion, ensuring that our residents have equal access. It also fits with our Community Wealth Building principles of anchor collaboration and democratic ownership.”
He added: "The greatest impact will be on the health and wellbeing, and life opportunities of our residents, which as a Council we want to address.
"In the longer term we will explore how Preston Digital Cooperative can be an alternative, ethical provider in the market working with and supporting our local communities and businesses.”
Shaun Fensom, chair at Community Broadband Network, said: "We are excited to be working with Preston City Council and other organisations across the city to set up and be involved with Preston Digital Cooperative. It is an opportunity to develop and build on our work in other regions across the UK for more than 20 years.
"The cooperative will work on innovative ways to source and distribute devices and enable free wireless broadband connectivity in selected places across the city."
