Every year, the International Day to End Poverty reminds us that ending poverty isn’t just about financial support, it’s about removing the barriers that keep people from opportunity. In 2025, one of the biggest barriers is still digital exclusion.

If you don’t have a device, data, or the know-how to get online, everyday tasks like applying for jobs, booking appointments, or even accessing benefits become almost impossible. It’s a quiet but powerful form of inequality, one that stops people from moving forward.

At Starting Point, we run basic digital skills sessions to help people take their first steps into the digital world. Many of the people we support are rebuilding their confidence after time out of work, or learning to use technology for the first time. Helping someone set up an email address or apply for their first online job can make a huge difference but only if they have access to a device in the first place.

That’s why we work closely with partners like Community Computers, who collect, refurbish and distribute donated laptops and desktops to people who need them most. These partnerships make sure that when someone leaves our training sessions, they can carry on learning and job searching at home.

Community Computers and many others like them are doing brilliant, practical work that bridges the gap between digital exclusion and digital confidence. But they can only keep doing it if the wider sector recognises their value.

When funding allows, we make sure to pay a fair price for refurbished devices and related services. It’s about sustainability making sure community organisations aren’t just surviving on goodwill but can plan, invest and grow. Paying fairly helps them keep their doors open, employ local people, and support even more learners in the long run.

The scale of digital exclusion might surprise you and we are so grateful of the APLE Collective who keep the voice of this issue alive and loud.

According to FutureDotNow, over half of working-age adults in the UK (52%) can’t complete all 20 essential digital tasks needed for work: things like managing online accounts, using cloud storage, or joining video calls.

For people out of work, that figure rises to 60%. And in low-income households, around 60% of adults lack full digital proficiency.

That gap doesn’t just hold individuals back m, it affects the whole economy. FutureDotNow estimates that if everyone in the workforce had essential digital skills, it could boost the UK economy by £23 billion a year. Workers could earn around £900 more annually, and more than 12,000 people could move into employment, adding £260 million in wages each year.

So while helping someone get online might seem small, it’s actually part of something much bigger.

Digital inclusion is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce poverty. The combination of affordable devices, connectivity support and training gives people real independence and a clear route into work.

That’s why we believe in investing fairly in the organisations that make this possible. When community refurbishers and local training providers are paid properly for their time and expertise, everyone benefits. The result isn’t just digital access; it’s a stronger, more connected community.

On this International Day to End Poverty, we’re reminded that digital access is now a basic need not a luxury. The ability to use technology confidently is often the first step toward finding work, staying informed, and feeling included.

By working together, skills providers, advocates, community tech projects, funders and employers; we can make sure everyone has the tools and knowledge they need to take that step. Because when people are connected, they can learn, work and thrive.

Digital inclusion isn’t just about technology, it’s about giving people the power to change their own lives.

This blog is scattered with pictures of our activities today.