Session: Digital Inclusion - a government perspective
The Government is committed to driving digital inclusion in our most deprived neighbourhoods, and Cathy will outline the current state of play, including the activities of the independent Champion for Digital Inclusion, Martha Lane Fox. Cathy will also provide an update on current Government programmes including CLG’s digital inclusion capacity building resources and research, the Social Landlords Strategy Group and other cross-Government work that is being developed
Biography
Cathy joined the Department for Communities and Local Government in April 2007. She is responsible for delivering on the Government's SNR commitment to facilitate a focus on economic activity in the sub-region through the development of Multi Area Agreements (MAAs). She is also responsible for designing and developing the policy that will guide the development of city-region pilots. Prior to this Cathy was Secretary to the independent Equalities Review commissioned by the Prime Minister. Before that Cathy worked in the Government Office for London where she was head of the youth and crime unit, she was also latterly responsible for developing London's Resettlement of Offenders Strategy. Cathy is a former member of the Social Exclusion Unit. While in the Unit Cathy worked on the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy - the Government's Strategy to improve the lives of the most deprived people and places.
In mid 2009 Cathy took responsibility for CLG's digital inclusion policy agenda. This involves delivery of the outputs from 2007's Digital Challenge, as well as taking forward the 'Community Voices' programme, embedding digital life skills in deprived communities, and the joint programme being run with DWP to enable estate wardens to take on a more supportive role using new technologies.
