Our Impact

“Digital Voice for Communities revolutionises digital inclusion empowering vulnerable individuals in the North East they inspire creativity, confidence and future tech careers driving true innovation and inclusion.” 

Northern Power Women’s Awards judging panel, 2025

Digital Voice’s aim is to improve people’s lives through creative digital media. The people we work with are amongst the most vulnerable in society and the most likely to be digitally excluded.

What does ‘digitally excluded’ mean?

Digital exclusion is defined by a lack of access to a digital device and/or lack of digital skills. 

Simply put, it means that some people aren’t able to use digital technology in ways that would allow them to fully participate in society. Things you take for granted when you have a smart phone, tablet or computer, like booking appointments at your doctor, doing online shopping, submitting meter readings or checking your bank account are not easily accessible to everyone. 

In the North East, the percentage of people considered digitally excluded or in digital poverty, is the highest in the UK. People who are financially vulnerable or live with a condition that impairs their use of communication services are more likely to be digitally excluded.  

“Digital Poverty sets up a vicious circle in which those without digital connectivity lose out and become financially poorer. It can exacerbate other forms of poverty among the most disadvantaged households.” [Source: Lloyds Bank Consumer Digital Index 2021]

Digital Voice is on a mission to change this. 

And it is working.

These people benefited from our projects.

How do we do it?

Our award-winning programmes combine digital skills with creativity. We often refer to them as digital skills by stealth, as the emphasis is on having fun, being creative and connecting with other people.

• We devise projects for absolute beginners; when we say ‘no experience necessary’ we mean it. 

• We create the conditions for people to flourish.

• We believe in the power of people’s stories to enact change; we give them the tools and skills to share them.

DigitalMe

Our award-winning innovative approach to sharing people’s lived experiences anonymously.

Intouch

Our range of introductory courses for absolute beginners and those anxious to give it a go.

Digital Voice & Your Organisation

Why choose us? 

A Digital Voice project has immediate benefits for the participants. They are able to share their stories, explore their creativity, or learn new, transferable skills. The impact for the organisation and the wider community can be just as powerful. 

“We’ve got a long history in Gateshead [Council] of using creative methods to hear young people’s views and giving them different ways to share what matters to them. In 2017 we worked on our first DigitalMe project with young people who were cared for. The DigitalMe programme has allowed lots of different groups of young people in Gateshead to share the inner workings of their lives, the day to day things that have happened to them in a way that allows them to share very personal details but in a much more managed and nurturing way. The reaction to these videos by anyone who watches them are so strong, you can’t help but want to do something about the issues that young people are raising.” 

Chris Hulme, Children’s Rights Worker, Gateshead Council

Our DigitalMe projects result in a film that can be used as a powerful teaching resource that lasts way beyond the scope of the original project. Our films are currently being used in schools, community settings, youth offender institutions as well as for training professionals, and tackle subjects as diverse as young people in care, arson and the criminal justice system.

A catalyst for change 

By giving vulnerable people a voice and ensuring policy makers and gatekeepers hear what they have to say, real change can happen. Young care leavers in the North East successfully campaigned for free travel passes; people on our inTouch courses said that what they really needed was a device of their own and we worked with the NHS to make this happen. 

Working in partnership in this way can enact real change and improve people’s lives.

The Stories Behind the Statistics

Statistics are only part of the story, behind each number or percentage are real people, with different reasons to be on our courses, or different stories and experiences to share.

These case studies offer a closer look at some of the groups we’ve worked with:

• Making a difference in their community - Read more here

• New skills in Weardale - Read more here

• Drawing for Wellbeing - Read more here

“I first set up Digital Voice in 2007 to tackle digital inequality in our region; 

we’ve certainly made progress but we’re not finished yet.” 

Julie Nicholson, Managing Director & Co-Founder

To be part of our ongoing mission, please get in touch, we’d love to work with you