At Starting Point, we often say we start where the problems show up. That’s exactly what’s been happening at Gorton Hub through our partnership with One Manchester.

Over the past year, we’ve delivered 31 sessions at the Hub, welcoming 160 local residents through the doors. Some came because they’d been referred by housing officers. Others heard about us through word of mouth. Many arrived feeling unsure, sometimes embarrassed, often frustrated. Almost all left feeling more confident than when they walked in. And that’s the bit that matters most.

Through the National Databank, we’ve supported 39 residents with free mobile connectivity — the equivalent of more than £6,000 worth of data. For someone juggling rent, food and energy bills, that isn’t just data. That’s the ability to apply for jobs, manage a Universal Credit claim, attend online appointments, or stay in touch with family.

On top of that, we’ve distributed over £2,000 worth of donated devices and software. Again, that’s not just tech, it’s access, it’s opportunity.

One learner told us:

“I was choosing between topping up my phone and buying food some weeks. Having the data means I can actually look for work properly.”

Another shared:

“I used to ignore emails because I didn’t understand them. Now I check them every day.”

These are small shifts, but they add up.

Working inside Gorton Hub, right in the heart of a One Manchester community, makes all the difference. Nearly half of the residents who told us about their housing situation live in council or housing association accommodation. Almost a quarter are in temporary accommodation or experiencing homelessness.

We know digital exclusion doesn’t sit on its own. It sits alongside unemployment, low qualifications and health challenges. Around a third of those who shared their employment status told us they’re currently unemployed and looking for work. Many are managing long-term physical or mental health conditions. A significant number receive benefits, with most of those on Universal Credit.

When support is based in a trusted community space, people are more likely to engage. They don’t feel like they’re walking into a formal service. They feel like they’re walking into somewhere familiar.

One attendee put it simply:

“If this was somewhere else, I probably wouldn’t have come. But this is near my estate. It feels safe.”

That sense of safety and trust is something housing associations are uniquely placed to offer.

The people attending our sessions reflects the diversity of Gorton itself. We’ve worked with residents aged from teenagers through to people in their 70s, though most are between 25 and 64. The community is culturally rich: including White English, Black African, Arab, Asian and Black British residents and slightly more women than men have attended.

What brings them together isn’t age or background. It’s the need for digital confidence in a world that assumes everyone is already online.

To tackle this stuff, partnership working isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.

Housing associations like One Manchester see, every day, how digital exclusion impacts tenants. Missed rent messages. Difficulties managing online portals. Job opportunities lost because applications are digital-only. Health services moving online. Benefits managed through apps.

By working together, we’re not offering a standalone digital course. We’re strengthening the wider support network around residents. Housing officers can refer directly into sessions. We can respond to emerging needs quickly. And most importantly, residents don’t fall through the cracks.

One learner summed it up beautifully:

“I didn’t just learn about computers. I feel less stuck.”

That’s why this work matters. In 31 sessions, we haven’t just delivered support. We’ve helped people take practical steps towards independence; whether that’s applying for work, accessing services, or simply feeling more in control.

When charities and housing associations collaborate, digital inclusion becomes part of the fabric of a community, not an add-on. And we’ll keep showing up at Gorton Hub, because that’s where the need is.

Thank you to the team at One Manchester for funding this work and the Good Things Foundation National Databank for enabling the support.