Excerpt: The Tech4Prisonleavers project was created in 2021, in part a reaction to the changing landscape of support and employment caused by the push to digital services during the pandemic.
Year Published: 2024
Date Published: 14/05/2024
Author/s: Digital Poverty Alliance
Research Link: https://digitalpovertyalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Tech4PrisonLeavers-White-Paper-2024-Compressed.pdf
Key Takeaways: In today’s digital-first world, access to the internet is not merely a convenience; it has become a fundamental aspect of societal integration and equal opportunity – it is essential for everyday life. This reality is starkly evident in the challenges faced by former prisoners re-entering society, who are often thrust into a digital landscape that can be both intimidating and unforgiving. The Digital Poverty Alliance’s Tech4PrisonLeavers project has played a vital role in addressing this critical yet frequently overlooked aspect of our social fabric, focusing specifically on prison leavers in the West Midlands, and then London and the South East of England. This paper is presented based on research from University of Wolverhampton.