North East Digital Charity Ball
Tackling the digital poverty in the North East: from the Tyne to the Tees.
North East Digital Charity Ball: Inspiring generosity, connecting communities
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity should be too.
The North East is home to a thriving technology sector, world-class digital expertise and a new generation of people shaping the future of innovation. From Newcastle and Sunderland to Durham and Tees Valley, the region has the talent and ambition to compete with major technology hubs around the world.
But opportunity isn’t shared equally.
While digital innovation continues to transform how we live, work and connect, too many people across the North East are still held back by digital poverty. Without access to a suitable device, internet connection or the skills and confidence to get online, everyday tasks can become significant barriers to education, employment, essential services and social connection.
It's estimated 1 in 3 residents in the North East are digitally excluded
Source: North Eastern ICT Partnership
North East Digital Charity Ball with Point North
Everyone deserves the chance to participate in an increasingly digital world.
At Point North, our grants help communities and partners across the North East to tackle digital poverty, improve digital inclusion and help more people access the opportunities that technology can unlock.
Support from the North East Digital Charity Ball helps us turn that ambition into action.
Coming together at the North East Digital Charity Ball
Addressing digital poverty takes more than technology. It takes people and organisations who recognise that access to the digital world is fundamental to opportunity, participation and connection.
North East Digital Charity Ball is part of that collective effort, helping shine a light on the importance of digital inclusion and supporting work to tackle digital poverty across the region.
By bringing people together around a shared purpose, supporters help turn regional ambition into practical action: helping more people access the devices, connectivity and support they need to participate in an increasingly digital society.
Turning regional ambition into local impact
Digital inclusion is essential to creating stronger, fairer communities.
Our work to address digital poverty is grounded in the understanding that every community has different needs.
For some people, the priority may be access to a device or affordable connectivity. For others, it may be developing digital skills, building confidence or finding the right support to get online safely and independently.
Across County Durham, Tees Valley, Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland and the wider North East, tackling these barriers requires collaboration between charities, community organisations, businesses, funders and local partners.
By bringing support, resources and organisations together, we can help strengthen the work happening in communities and create more opportunities for people to participate in the digital world.
Making a difference across the North East
Across County Durham, Tees Valley and the wider North East, Point North supports work that helps address the barriers people face in an increasingly digital world.
From improving access to devices and connectivity to building digital skills and confidence, these projects demonstrate what can happen when local knowledge, community action and the right support come together.
Explore some of the projects we’ve supported and discover how organisations across our region are helping to create a more digitally inclusive North East.
How a grant from Point North opened Sam’s door to learning, connection and hope at a time of uncertainty.
Fulforth Centre in Sacriston provides volunteering opportunities and helps local residents like Sarah find belonging post-retirement.
How a Point North grant for a laptop is supporting a care experienced young person at university.
Supporting digital inclusion in the community
A £5,000 grant from Point North to Action Foundation supported the Digital Inclusion project which equipped refugees and asylum seekers in the North East with the technology and equipment to overcome digital exclusion.
A digital economy that works for everyone
A lack of access to a suitable device can make applying for a job harder.
Unaffordable and unreliable connectivity can interrupt a child’s learning.
Limited digital skills or confidence can make accessing essential services more difficult and leave people feeling disconnected from their communities.
Digital poverty is not simply about being offline. It is about being excluded from opportunities that we increasingly take for granted.
Closing that gap means ensuring that the benefits of the North East’s digital growth are felt by the people who live here, in every community and at every stage of life.
With support from North East Digital Charity Ball, we can bridge the digital divide.