Assets

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• Asset based approach
• Digital inclusion

Asset based approach

Mounting evidence shows that when practitioners begin with what communities have – their assets – as opposed to what they don't have - their needs - a community's ability to address those needs increases.

A health asset is any factor or resource which enhances the ability of individuals, communities and populations to maintain and sustain health and well-being. These assets can operate at the level of the individual, family or community as protective and promoting factors to buffer against life’s stresses. Antony Morgan
Associate Director
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), 2009

An asset is considered to be any of the following:

• The practical skills, capacity and knowledge of local residents
• The networks and connections – known as ‘social capital’ – in a community, including friendships and neighbourliness
• The effectiveness of local community and voluntary associations
• The resources of public, private and third sector organisations that are available to support a community
• The physical and economic resources of a place that enhance well-being

An asset approach starts by asking questions and reflecting on what is already present:

• What makes us strong?
• What makes us healthy?
• What factors make us more able to cope in times of stress?
• What makes this a good place to be?
• What does the community do to improve health?

The Bolton picture

• Bolton Council – find my nearest - text and map-based information about where you live in Bolton
• Bolton State of the sector - report on the social and economic impact of the voluntary sector across Bolton
• Mapping GM – people and communities map - a map bringing together information about an area including provision of services such as post offices, GP surgeries, dentists and hospitals; the availability of social amenities and leisure facilities; and key socio-economic information.
• My life in Bolton - informaiton on services, activities, events and advice all in one place
• Access to local amenities - from ONS
• Office for Local Government data explorer - data and analysis about the services provided by local government. This is a new tool which is being actively developed.

Further useful links

• A glass half-full - how an asset approach can improve community health and wellbeing
• Social value in commissioning and procurement

Digital inclusion

What is Digital Inclusion?

Digital inclusion refers to the activities necessary to ensure that all individuals and communities, including the most disadvantaged, have access to and use of information and communication technologies. 

This includes five elements:

• Affordable, robust broadband internet service
• Internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user
• Access to digital literacy training
• Quality technical support and
• Applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation and collaboration.

The residents that may be impacted by digital exclusion, as it disproportionately affects:

• People in lower-income households
• Individuals with lower levels of education / no qualifications
• Minorities
• Senior citizens
• Refugees and immigrants
• People with physical, intellectual, or sensory disabilities as well as developmental disorders
• Other highly vulnerable and disadvantaged groups 

Who is most likely to be digitally excluded?

Digital exclusion arises from a complex interplay of factors. It can take different forms, vary by degree, and fluctuate according to circumstance and life stage.

Evidence suggests the eight factors which make people particularly likely to experience digital exclusion. They are:

• Age
• Poverty
• Literacy & communication preferences
• Skills & motivation
• Precarious lifestyles
• Privacy
• Disability & specific conditions
• Trust in IT

The root causes of digital exclusion are often structural and reflect longstanding social, economic and regional disparities. People are rarely digitally excluded for a single reason.

The Bolton picture and DERI tool

The Digital Exclusion Risk Index (DERI) tool, for England, Wales and Scotland, was developed in alignment with a similar tool used by Salford Council in response to local authorities finding digital exclusion a significant challenge for residents and communities during the pandemic.

It visualises the risk, or likelihood, of digital exclusion in every LSOA in England and Wales, bringing together a broad set of indicators, which are weighted and summed, to create an overall DERI score.

The mapping tool can be found online at: Workbook: Digital Exclusion Risk Index v1.6

 

• Digital inclusion report - from LG inform
• Workbook: Digital Exclusion Risk Index v1.6 - Digital Exclusion Risk Index - GMCA