Digital lifeline launched in East Leeds to help residents find work

Unemployed people in East Leeds are set to benefit from free laptops, internet access and digital skills training as part of a new scheme launched by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin.

The initiative, unveiled during a visit to GIPSIL in Gipton, aims to help residents who are struggling to get online or lack the digital confidence needed to find work, access training or manage everyday services.

Backed by £250,000 from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the pilot will provide people with free devices, Wi-Fi or data, and at least five hours of one-to-one digital skills support. The scheme will start in Leeds before expanding across the rest of West Yorkshire later this year.

Mayor Brabin said the scheme is designed to open up opportunities for people who are currently excluded from the digital world.

“Too many people in West Yorkshire are locked out of opportunity because they can’t get online or don’t have the skills they need to confidently use the internet. That isn’t fair on people and isn’t healthy for our economy.

“Today’s funding means more people will get a device and hands-on support to build their confidence – so they can find good jobs, access training, manage their health, and connect with the essential online services that make everyday life easier.”

The Mayor’s visit to GIPSIL – short for Gipton Supported Independent Living – highlighted how the initiative is already taking root in East Leeds. The charity supports young people and families facing housing insecurity, mental health challenges and barriers to employment, and will be among the first to deliver the scheme locally.

Louise Forrest, GIPSIL’s Director of Development and Partnerships, said the funding could transform the lives of the people they work with.

“It allows us to reach young people who are not only struggling with their mental health but are also disconnected from education, employment, and opportunity,” she said. “With this support, we can walk alongside them – building confidence, restoring hope, and opening doors to a future they may have thought was out of reach.”

The project builds on the work of 100% Digital Leeds, a citywide partnership between Leeds City Council and the Leeds Health and Care Partnership, which works with trusted community organisations to promote digital inclusion.

Jason Tutin, who leads the programme, said digital access can be the key to unlocking better opportunities.

“This funding will help people to connect with services and their community, overcome barriers to work, and move closer to the labour market,” he said.

The benefits are already being seen in people’s lives. One Leeds resident who received digital support through GIPSIL said access to a Wi-Fi box and SIM card helped them stay on track with their studies after moving into emergency accommodation. It meant they could complete university applications and secure a place to study nursing.

With more than a fifth of working-age adults in West Yorkshire lacking essential digital skills, local organisations say the East Leeds pilot could be a model for helping people reconnect with education and employment.