While our society becomes increasingly reliant on digital technologies for essential services, education and employment, more than 19 million adults and one in five children are living in digital poverty, according to the Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA).

Today (12 September) marks the second annual End Digital Poverty Day, an initiative launched by the DPA, an independent charity of which the IET is a founder partner.

This campaign raises awareness of the millions of adults and children across the UK lacking access to digital technologies such as laptops, which is contributing to a widening digital divide in underserved communities.

Elizabeth Anderson, chief executive of the DPA, said: “With so much of our lives continuing to revolve around digital, it is imperative that digital access becomes a basic human right.”

The DPA is calling for those living in digital poverty to have access to a suitable digital device such as a laptop, broadband connectivity and the digital skills to be able to...