The LandAid Tech Network: the successes and impact

Dan Hughes, Chair of the LandAid Tech Network and founder of Alpha Property Insight, explores the networks recent successes in utilising technology from the property and built environment industry in supporting young people experiencing homelessness, through raising funds, striving for better data, and enhancing digital connectivity.

03/10/2023

We live in a world where digital connectivity is more essential than ever.

Yet sadly we know that many young people facing homelessness do not have access to this facility. Applying for benefits, getting a job, or generally staying in touch with people is a daily challenge.

At LandAid, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to use technology to live, learn, work, and thrive.

With October seeing awareness weeks around digital connectivity, including, Get Online Week and Digital Inclusion Week, this felt timely to explore the varying ways that we at LandAid are utilising technology from the property and built environment industry and striving to enhance digital connectivity amongst young people experiencing homelessness.

Around two years ago we kicked off an initiative to harness the growing ecosystem of technology companies and teams called the LandAid Tech Network. Today we have over 50 member firms and I think it is fair to say that we have gotten off to a strong start.

Fundraising

In 2022/23 alone, LandAid Tech Network has raised over £100k for LandAid.

This is enough to fund around 7 bedspaces through LandAid’s capital grants programme. It is expected that these bed spaces will be used by at least 55 different young people over a minimum of the next 8 years, offering an opportunity for those who have nowhere else to turn to take their first steps towards independence.* These bedspaces provide vulnerable young people with somewhere safe to sleep within a secure and supportive environment, enabling them to gain long term help to prevent the cycle of homelessness.

Better connected

In supporting the homelessness sector to be ‘online’ alongside giving young people to necessary tools to stay connected – LandAid has partnered with Vodafone. Last year, Vodafone provided over £1.6m worth of mobile data via homelessness charities and they have now pledged to supply £4.5m worth of data per year for the next three years. So far this year, over £1.4m worth has been provided. This partnership has been extremely successful in supporting young people and raising awareness of the problem.

This is highlighted in the recent launch of the Vodafone Digital Connectivity docu-series where I am interviewed about our partnership, alongside other charities including the Trussell Trust and Centrepoint.

LandAid has also partnered with Computers4Charity, providing an easy route for property companies to donate unwanted hardware for use by youth homelessness charities. In 2023, donations totalled £46,000, saving a total of around 22.2 tonnes of CO2 emissions. These computers give young people the tools to stay connected, complete online training, develop key life skills, and support with job applications.

Data, data, data

According to a report published in 2022 by the ‘All Party Parliamentary Group for Ending Homelessness’ “government data on rough sleeping does not meet standards required to be considered national statistics, and the data falls short in trustworthiness, quality, and value.”

The LandAid Tech Network has brought together a range of different stakeholders to better define the problems, share what is available, and explore actions needed to improve the situation. The next step for the LandAid Tech Network is the creation of a dedicated ‘Homelessness data working group’ consisting of individuals from a range of organisations including Rightmove, Homeless Link (the membership body for frontline homelessness services) and DLUHC.

Recent recognition

I am really proud of the impact that the LandAid Tech Network has already had, and I am delighted that this has been recognised at the leading industry EG Awards where the network has been shortlisted for the Social Impact Award.

I am enormously grateful to members of the steering group, the LandAid team and the Tech Network members. We have achieved a lot, but both the challenges and opportunities that those tackling and affected by homelessness face from data and technology are only going to grow.

I am excited about where we might go next.

8 years is the minimum condition LandAid set when agreeing to fund a capital project.

Watch Dan Hughes feature in the latest Vodafone docu-series

Episode two of the Vodafone ‘Disconnected’ docu-series sees Emma Willis interview charity representatives from LandAid, The Trussell Trust, and Centrepoint. This episode is talking to how we are collectively helping those who are affected by the digital divide. The campaign is the latest initiative from Vodafone, as part of the brand’s pledge to help four million people and businesses cross the digital divide by the end of 2025.

Watch here

Find out more about the LandAid Tech Network

Click here