Good Things Foundation

Good Things Foundation
Name	Good Things Foundation
Formation	2010
Type	Non-profit
Purpose	Digital inclusion
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Region served	United Kingdom, international
Leader title	Chief Executive

Good Things Foundation is a UK-based social enterprise focused on tackling digital exclusion and promoting digital skills for underserved populations. It operates community networks, training programs, and partnerships to support adults who are offline or lacking digital confidence. The organisation works across civil society, health, welfare and technology sectors to increase access to online services and employability.

History

Good Things Foundation was founded in 2010 following initiatives that linked community learning providers with national funding streams and philanthropic support. Early activity built on models tested by community organisations such as Barnardo's, Age UK, Royal Voluntary Service, and pilot projects funded by the Big Lottery Fund and philanthropic actors including Nominet Trust. The organisation expanded during policy shifts under the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition and later Conservative Party administrations that sought to digitise public services. Major milestones include delivery partnerships with public bodies such as NHS England, collaborations with telecommunications firms like BT Group and Virgin Media O2, and international replication in regions linked to initiatives by European Commission programmes and multilateral agencies such as UNICEF-related digital inclusion pilots.

Programs and Initiatives

Good Things Foundation delivers programs that combine digital skills curricula, learner accounts, and community network support. Core initiatives include community-based learning networks modelled after Community Learning Trusts, digital inclusion platforms influenced by open education resources like FutureLearn and Open University, and targeted employability projects aligned with labour market reforms promoted by DWP policy agendas. Health-related schemes were aligned with NHS Digital drives to increase online access to patient services such as NHS 111 and electronic patient records. The organisation also ran campaigns inspired by civic participation projects around Make It Digital-style public engagement and coordinated digital champions similar to volunteer schemes organized by Citizens Advice and Age Concern affiliates.

Partnerships and Funding

The organisation’s model relied on mixed funding from statutory bodies, corporate partners, charitable trusts, and social investment. Funders and partners have included national agencies like Cabinet Office initiatives, technology companies such as Google and Microsoft, telecommunications corporations including BT Group and TalkTalk Group, and philanthropic foundations like Nesta and Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It also worked with academic partners in the Higher Education Funding Council for England space and research units at institutions such as University of Manchester and University of Oxford for evaluation. Collaborative procurement and grant arrangements involved regional authorities including Greater Manchester Combined Authority and devolved administrations like the Scottish Government.

Impact and Evaluation

Independent evaluations have quantified learner progression, increased digital confidence, and improved access to services. Studies commissioned by public-sector partners compared outcomes to benchmarks used by agencies such as Office for National Statistics and impact frameworks from organisations like Cabinet Office’s social value guidelines. Reported results included learner accreditation through recognised units equivalent to qualifications overseen by bodies like Ofqual-regulated pathways and enhanced employability metrics tracked by Jobcentre Plus referrals. Academic research published in journals with contributors from London School of Economics-affiliated researchers examined social return on investment and digital inclusion impact, while instrumentation in national digital strategies provided comparators from Digital Economy Act-era analyses.

Governance and Leadership

Governance structures included a board of trustees drawn from non-profit, corporate, and academic sectors, with oversight mechanisms comparable to governance codes cited by Charity Commission for England and Wales. Senior leadership roles engaged executives with backgrounds in public-sector delivery and social innovation, often interacting with ministers from departments such as the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and senior officials from NHS England. Strategic advisory panels featured representatives from partners including Nesta, Microsoft UK, and local authority leaders from councils across regions like London and Greater Manchester.

Criticisms and Controversies

Critiques have addressed reliance on corporate funding from technology and telecom firms and the potential for private-sector influence over public-facing digital services, echoing debates seen in coverage of Public–private partnership models. Evaluators and civil society commentators referenced tensions similar to those raised in discussions around centralisation under Universal Credit digital access requirements and concerns about data sharing practices familiar from controversies involving NHS Digital and commercial suppliers. Some community providers signalled issues with competitive tendering and sustainability akin to wider debates on austerity-era funding pressures under Chancellor of the Exchequer-led spending reviews. These discussions prompted calls for stronger transparency, diversified funding, and rigorous independent evaluation from academic partners and scrutiny bodies such as the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Category:Digital inclusion organizations