Dorset Council is working towards ensuring that local people aren’t left behind both socially and workwise because they can’t access digital devices.

From now and until 2025, money raised from recycling old council laptops will be invested in the Digital Doorway scheme, which buys devices for people in need.

This is expected to raise £100,000 and help around 500 people who would otherwise be left behind in the digital world.

Organisations that work with Dorset Council-area residents are now being asked to refer anyone to the scheme who they think could benefit from a laptop or a tablet.

Portfolio holder for Corporate Development and Transformation, Cllr Jill Haynes, said: “There are still many people being left behind in what is becoming an increasingly digital world and I am delighted that we can help them in this way.

“Our scheme gifts laptops or tablets to people who face barriers to using digital, through either a lack of skills or not being able to afford devices to meet their needs.

“We are able to fund this through recycling our old laptops and computers, which also supports one of our priorities to reduce the council’s impact on the environment.”

The recent Lloyds Consumer Digital Index – the UK’s largest measure of digital and financial lives – revealed that the cost-of-living crisis is seeing millions of families considering giving up their broadband and mobile phone packages.

It said 9.4 million people were looking to alternative ways of connecting to the internet; while a further three million thought they might have to give it up altogether.

Meanwhile, the report added, 14 million people still had very low digital skills.

Last year, the first phase of Digital Doorway which was funded with a £20,000 Covid Recovery grant, gifted devices to 96 people. It also provided data to those that needed it.

One of those was Simon Hobbs from Swanage, who left his job as a primary school teacher because of a mental health crisis.

He has got his life back on track after his mental health support workers referred him to Digital Doorway.

Simon was given a laptop, which helped him realise his dream of setting up his own crafting business.

The 52-year-old said: “To succeed in a business like mine, you need a website, you need Instagram, you need reels – you need digital.

“I only had a very old phone and Chromebook and with just those it would have taken a lot longer to get my business off the ground.

“The laptop has made it all possible. It’s the horse that drives my business and I’ll forever be grateful for it.”

Any organisation that would like to find out more about Digital Doorway and how to refer people they work with can email digitaldorset@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk