During 2018, the Board decided to focus on core programmes that deliver digital skills in homes—Family Connect, Refugee Connect and Northland Connect— programmes that place an emphasis on the needs of individual learners and families.
These core programmes have tracked well during the year:
- The Family Connect programme, funded by TEC, delivered digital skills training to 450 Auckland learners in 2018. Each learner now has a personalised training programme.
- Northland Connect provided digital inclusion for 50 families in Dargaville under a Foundation North grant.
- The Refugee Connect programme continues to be funded by the Government and connects 130 refugee families each year, providing affordable devices, subsidised internet access and technical support.
To enable this focus on our core programmes, we supported the establishment of the Digital Inclusion Alliance Aotearoa (DIAA) to operate our non-core programmes (Stepping UP, Spark Jump and DORA).
The Kiwiskills programme, funded by Lottery Grants Board since 2014, has now ended. A total of 7,688 learners registered to gain digital skills and competencies. As part of our focus on core programmes, we decided to relinquish our National Operator Licence as the New Zealand distributor of ICDL products at the end of the contract period in November 2018.
In 2019, the results of the Census will give an indication of the number of New Zealanders that are not connected; as a country, NZ needs a plan to ensure that all New Zealanders can use and benefit from the internet. These changes ensure that 20/20 Trust is able to make a positive contribution to achieving this goal.