We’ve always felt deeply connected to our local community, and our work with the Upper Norwood Library Hub has been a cornerstone of that connection right from the start. As a local employer, we see ourselves as an integral part of the vibrant “business community” here. So, when the Library Hub invited us to participate in their Creative Communities project – an initiative designed to encourage local residents to express their thoughts and feelings about their community through art – we were immediately intrigued.

Initially, we pondered our approach. We aren’t a traditional community group, but we firmly believe in our role as connectors, providing access to the vital services and support that people need. It was from this perspective that we landed on the powerful concept of “Equity in Digital Inclusion.”

Over three engaging sessions, facilitated brilliantly by Tony Cealy and the talented @asmaeatsart, participants delved into some crucial questions about what it truly means to be digitally included in 2025:

• What does digital inclusion look like in today’s world?
• How does it impact you and our wider community?
• What does it really mean to be ‘connected’ in this digital age?
• How do you envision technology influencing the world around us?

The results of these explorations were nothing short of amazing. The artistic expressions that emerged were thought-provoking and deeply insightful. The subjects tackled ranged from the pervasive influence of Artificial Intelligence in our lives to the often-felt isolation between different generations navigating technology. Participants eloquently explored where “we” fit within this rapidly evolving digital landscape.

This collaboration with the Upper Norwood Library Hub has not only been a fantastic opportunity to engage with our community in a new and creative way, but it has also reinforced the critical importance of addressing digital equity. It’s a conversation that needs to continue, and we’re proud to have played a part in sparking these vital reflections.

It was great to invite Vera from Roehampton University to review the Digital Ambassador placement scheme, ensuring we meet our objectives and to hear from placements about the progress on their individual projects.

Alongside supporting local residents with their digital skills and our fight against digital exclusion they have each been working to either research or develop a real business situation for us at ClearCommunityWeb.

It has been a huge learning curve for both students and staff and we have certainly had some successes.

Its crucial to work alongside a partner like Roehampton University to provide real world situations to supplement their skills for work syllabus and to equally learn from them on how to structure something meaningful.

The Digital Ambassador projects have been varies and we look forward to seeing them complete so we can put into action.

They have included:

✅ Impact assessment and focus groups to understand our work in Thornton Heath

✅ Structuring our data and supporting the migration to a new M & E tool

✅ Supporting the launch of a Family Learning and Home-Schooling Centre in Stockwell

✅ Researching the firsts steps to Information & Advice accreditation

✅ Understanding different governance structures and developing an stakeholder board

✅ Developing social media templates and improving the way we plan and structure content calendars

✅ Researching the Digital Gap within the skills for work environment and helping to craft a content plan for a new programme

✅ Researching new digital tools and platforms and the launch of our BlueSky Account

Not bad eh!