Funding available to combat rural isolation
Organisations can apply for a share of up to £250,000 of funding to develop technologies that connect both young people and older adults in rural areas.
Monmouthshire is a rural county in South East Wales with a population of 92,800. Isolation and loneliness significantly impact people’s health and well-being in the county. This is a big challenge in areas with poor digital technology and transport.
Through the GovTech Catalyst – government’s £20 million fund to find creative solutions to complex public sector problems – Monmouthshire aims to develop digital innovations that could connect isolated people, transform public services and support transport opportunities.
Effective transport provision can help, but public service budget cuts result in less subsidised transport services and more reliance on private cars.
- Rural residents have difficulty accessing car sharing,
- Older people can find it difficult to drive,
- and restricted transport provision reduces opportunities for young people.
Digital innovations and technology could connect isolated people, transform public services and support transport opportunities. The Monmouthshire County Council are looking for proposals that provide support to individuals of all ages and communities. The aim is to reduce loneliness and connect rural communities through low cost, co-designed, user-friendly technology.
There are 3 main challenges that projects should address. These are:
- how to use technology to reduce loneliness for older people who are currently digitally excluded
- how to co-ordinate transport to improve the ability to travel while reducing public subsidy
- how to better connect people in rural areas to improve wellbeing, reduce pressure on health and social care and improve efficiency of services