The Digital Den – the first complete Sandwell Towns Fund project – launched on 16th August in West Bromwich, provides online digital access for children, adults and older people.
Led by Greets Green Community Enterprises (GGCE), the Digital Den is located at the Wood Lane Community Centre in West Bromwich, and supports people getting online, accessing employment opportunities and improving their readiness for employment.
The project invests in infrastructure to establish affordable digital services for West Bromwich communities, creating pathways with training provider EPIC to ensure opportunities are always accessible for education, training and employment through:
- accredited online training courses
- careers guidance, and
- online educational resources for children.
In February 2022, government approved three West Bromwich Towns Fund Projects – including the Digital Den – worth £3,962,600 in total. The remaining three project summary documentations were submitted in March 2022 and have recently been approved by government, meaning all six projects and the full £25m have been secured for West Bromwich.
The funding for the Digital Den project is £154,000 consisting of £42,600 from the Towns Fund and £112,000 match funding from GGCE.
Councillor Peter Hughes, Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth, said: “The launch of the Digital Den demonstrates how we are working with our partners and the voluntary sector to improve and develop digital skills in the community.
“The aim of the Digital Den is to minimise digital exclusion, maximise employment and training opportunities and, in doing so, reduce financial exclusion for the benefit of our communities.
“Through initiatives like the Digital Den, our young people and workforce will be skilled and talented, geared up to respond to changing business needs and to win rewarding jobs in a growing economy.”
Wendy Brookfield, Chief Executive Officer for Greets Green Community Enterprises, said: “This new local resource will be a vital link for many residents going forwards.
“The challenges faced by people who are becoming more digitally excluded affects all generations. Having a resource that can be flexible to provide structured training, local access and sessions to reduce community isolation are what this project has been all about.
“It is fantastic to be in the position where we can start making that real difference.”
For the latest information about the Digital Den, call Greets Green Community Enterprises on 0121 525 2772 or email info@ggce.co.uk
Wood Lane Community Centre will also be running coffee morning drop-ins from 10am-11:30am every Wednesday in September, an easy way to pop-in and get assistance in signing up to Digital Den sessions.
The photograph shows partners attending the Digital Den launch.
