Dynamo North East, the region’s tech sector business network, has launched the
second round of the Dynamo Digital Inclusion Fund after raising over £60,000 from local tech businesses, trusts and individual donors.

This second fund takes Dynamo’s investment into digital inclusion support to over
£100,000 following the first round of their fund and a hardware donation from industry into local communities.

David Dunn, CEO of Dynamo said: “It is amazing to see how much the sector supports our mission to overcome digital exclusion. The fact that we can raise over £100,000 from a standing start in two years really shows the sector understand the importance of helping everyone in our region to benefit from technology.”

The fund is focused on supporting initiatives that enable individuals to gain confidence in digital technology and help to create and inspire pathways into employment in the technology sector and thrive in an increasingly digital world. It is open to charities, community organisations and social enterprises from across the North East and Tees Valley.

John Hollingsworth, Chief Philanthropy and Development Officer at the Community
Foundation said: “In the first round of funding we supported some amazing organisations to do some truly innovative activity to help overcome digital exclusion and fact we can fund more through this second, larger funding pot is testament to how much the sector cares about the digital exclusion challenge.”

Funding was raised through individual and corporate donations at the Dynamo North
East Tech Charity Dinner held at the Fire Station in Sunderland plus donations from Tony and Anne Platten, the Virgin Community Foundation and Wellbank Foundation.

Organisations previously receiving grants to help overcome digital exclusion through the Dynamo fund are:

Vision Northumberland (formerly Northumberland County Blind Association)
The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company
Digital Voice for Communities CIC
Skills 4 Work (Gateshead) Limited
Age Concern South Tyneside
Your Voice Counts
Afghanistan & Central Asian Association
Mulgrave Mixed Media
Age UK Teesside