Improving the lives of one million young people

The internet and digital technology have the power to transform lives by creating opportunities and providing support where it is needed most. But they also have the power to leave young people behind.

We won’t let this happen.

In 2018 we set ourselves the goal of making technology a force for good in the lives of the young. We want to tackle some of the most important digital issues facing this key demographic in the UK today – and empower them.

Working with partners and charities, as well as through our own programmes and projects, we make a positive impact on the lives of one million young people each year.

Everything we do is led by careful research with this sector helping them – and us – to evolve the work we do. Every choice and action is strategic, guided by what is needed most and where the structural gaps exist.

And we’ve only just begun.

Who are we helping – and how?

These are the projects Nominet’s Public Benefit team have been involved with since the launch of our One Million Lives programme in 2018.

View One Million Lives PDF

Scouts

• We worked closely with the Scouts to build a new curriculum and re-launch the Digital Citizenship badge, helping to equip young people with the skills for life lived online.
• We supported the Scouts to deliver their inspired indoor activity programme #GreatIndoors when the UK imposed national lockdown in 2020.

Micro:bit Foundation

• An ongoing partnership with the Micro:bit Education Foundation has resulted in the creation and delivery of micro:bit classroom and the redevelopment of the micro:bit platform. We’re helping teachers get the best out of these mini-computers with their students and introduce more youngsters to coding.

Samaritans

• Nominet provided valuable technical expertise to help develop a new digital dashboard, a digital self-help tool and online chat service – it’s helping this leading charity reach more people than ever before.

THIS IS HOW – podcast and platform

• Nominet, in partnership with Livity, have developed a new online platform and podcast series to help inspire and equip young people with the digital skills and knowledge they need to pursue a digital career path.

#RESET Mental Health Programme

• We provided grant funding for leading youth mental health charities to support their digital services and help them reach young people in need. Find out more about the great work of these charities on the #RESET Mental Health Programme page.

Countering Online Harm fund

• Nominet provided two child protection networks with additional funds towards their crucial work in keeping children safe online. Find out more about these important organisations, the National Crime Agency’s Child Exploitation Online Protection group and the Internet Watch Foundation.

Children’s Online Safety programme

• Nominet is supporting two leading organisations to broaden the impact of their activities that are equipping young people with the skills and knowledge to keep themselves safe online. Find out more about our incredible partners, South West Grid for Learning and ChildNet.
• We’re determined to ensure Nominet is making a positive impact on young lives. We invest in programmes and projects that will ensure technology is a force for good for the adults of the future.

The pandemic has demonstrated that challenges associated with the digital world follow no set timeline. Sometimes we need to react quickly. Sometimes we need to get support to where it’s needed right now.

Zero-rate access

• When the first lockdown was announced in March 2020, we worked with partner Snook, the UK Government and leading mobile networks to secure zero-rate access to key websites. This allowed those living in digital poverty, unable to top up their mobile phones, to access critical advice and information.

DevicesDotNow

• With support from DCMS, our initiative DevicesDotNow worked to get digital devices and connectivity into the hands of those without during the first national lockdown. When the project ended in July, we had sourced 11,000 devices.

Reboot by Nominet

• Learnings from DevicesDotNow fed into a new online platform to provide advice, support and resources to the community groups, schools and charities who continue to work at sourcing unused devices for those without digital access.