Showcase event demonstrates how digital technology can be used to improve lives

The ways in which digital technology can help transform the lives of vulnerable people have been showcased at an event.

Bridging the Digital Divide demonstrated how tech - including virtual reality - can create solutions for identified issues, resulting in positive outcomes for people

Support Northamptonshire in partnership with Café Track, VR Therapies, The University of Northampton and Digital Northants hosted the event.

Talks included:

• Support Northamptonshire showed how digital technology can enable collaborative case management and wellbeing outcomes for vulnerable people
• Café Track discussed how they are using digital technology to help create employment opportunities for autistic people
• VR Therapies demonstrated how virtual reality has been used to transform the lives of people with mental health issues and physical disabilities

This event aimed to inspire delegates from the voluntary sector to further their digital strategies and use digital technology to provide better outcomes for the people and groups they support.

"Our Bridging the Digital Divide event was inspiring and showed the value of collaboration.

"Attendees from the voluntary sector felt really inspired and there were great conversations about working together and working differently.

"We want to take the energy in the room and look to follow this up with potential bids for future projects together."Pratima Dattani, Chief Executive of Support Northants.

"The pace that technology is developing is breathtaking and as new ground is broken, it is inspiring to see just how these advances can be applied to bring positive change to people's lives.

"This event showed the many benefits that are available to help vulnerable people and how projects could be expanded to help even more in the future."

Cllr David Howes. North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Member for Rural Communities and Localism and who has responsibility for Digital.

"The Centre for Active Digital Education at the University of Northampton was proud to support such an important event for the community. 

"The issues and potential solutions covered during the event impact most of the population and we need forums such as this to bring people together to provide support and solutions."

Rob Howe, Head of Learning Technology at The University of Northampton.

The event was part of the Digital Northamptonshire initiative, a collaboration between North and West Northamptonshire Councils and the University of Northampton which aims to build a community of people interested in how digital technology can help to transform their organisations.

"Spectacles were once a breakthrough technology which opened the world to countless people.

"Virtual Reality will break down even more barriers and I’m pleased that along with some great partners, we can play a role in nurturing grassroots innovation which will find ways for this technology to serve us as a community."Cllr Jonathan Nunn, Leader of West Northants Council.