Places for People empowers over 800 customers to get online and stay safe

To mark Get Online Week, Places for People (PfP), the UK’s leading social enterprise, continues to promote digital inclusion, supporting over 800 customers to bridge the digital divide. 

Recognising that digital inclusion is about more than access, PfP provides targeted support, partnerships and events to help customers get connected and stay safe online, focussing on security, confidence and resilience. 

Director of Places Impact at PfP, Marcus Hulme, said: “Digital confidence opens doors to services, jobs, education, and connection and we know that many of our customers need support to gain the skills to use the internet effectively. 

“As a social enterprise, our purpose is to create thriving communities - and that means ensuring everyone can participate fully in today’s digital world.  

“Digital inclusion isn’t just about access to devices or data; it’s about confidence, safety, and opportunity. Whether it’s helping someone apply for a job, manage their tenancy online, or stay connected with loved ones, these initiatives make a real difference to our customers lives. We are very proud to have supported over 800 customers last year and are committed to helping even more become digitally empowered this year so they are better equipped to thrive.” 

Barriers such as digital exclusion are the realities of many PfP customers. In the last year alone, 10% of PfP customers cancelled their mobile phone or broadband contracts and 19% told PfP they would like help accessing low-cost phone and broadband deals. 

As a social enterprise, PfP goes Beyond Homes, to address the daily challenges customers face with the cost of living, homeless prevention, digital access, health and wellbeing, employment and education and more, delivering support to not only prevent people falling into crisis but to allow communities to truly thrive. 

The latest Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report released by PfP highlights the digital inclusion achievements for 2024/25: 

During Get Online Week, colleagues across PfP are being encouraged to offer simple support to customers where they can - whether that’s helping them navigate a website, set up an email, or referring them to the Inclusion Team for further help. 

PfP’s digital inclusion work is part of its wider ESG Strategy, which engaged over 30,000 customers through digital and financial inclusion initiatives last year alone.