Out Together is delighted to announce that, together with Patient.info, we have secured funding from the Government’s Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund. This joint bid will allow us to expand our successful Leeds-based digital inclusion hubs for older LGBTQ+ people and bring vital digital skills support to communities across West Yorkshire.
For many older LGBTQ+ people, feeling confident online is about much more than technology. It is about access to healthcare, financial independence, social connection and a sense of belonging. With this new funding and a strong partnership between a community-led charity and one of the UK’s most trusted digital health platforms, we can make a meaningful difference to even more lives.
A partnership built on trust, health and community
Patient.info brings decades of experience providing accessible, evidence-based health information to millions of people each month. As more NHS services move online, having the confidence to navigate digital health tools is essential. Many older LGBTQ+ people face barriers in doing so, sometimes due to past experiences with healthcare or a lack of support at home.
By working together, Out Together and Patient.info can offer something unique. Out Together provides the safe, welcoming community spaces where people can learn without judgement and meet peers with shared experiences. Patient.info provides the tools, training and expertise to help people take control of their health online and understand what trustworthy digital information looks like.
This partnership ensures that digital inclusion is not simply about using a device, but about building confidence, improving health literacy and empowering people to engage with the world on their own terms.
Five new community hubs supporting more than 250 people
The new funding will allow us to open five digital inclusion hubs across West Yorkshire, building on the success of our pilot in Leeds. Together, these hubs will support more than 250 older LGBTQ+ adults through:
- Digital skills training tailored to individual needs
- Access to devices and one-to-one support
- Peer-to-peer learning led by community volunteers
- Guidance on using email, video calling, online banking and other essential services
- Practical health-focused digital skills, from ordering prescriptions to checking symptoms and understanding NHS pathways
- Support with online safety, privacy and confidence-building
- Introductions to emerging technologies, including AI, to help people stay informed and engaged
Each hub will be a welcoming space where people can take things at their own pace, share experiences and rebuild social connections that may have been lost through isolation.
A national digital health hub and volunteer network
Alongside the local hubs, Out Together and Patient.info will develop a national digital health hub and volunteer network. This will create sustainable, long-term support and ensure that the project has impact far beyond West Yorkshire.
The national hub will offer:
- Easy-to-understand guides and resources created jointly by Patient.info’s medical team and Out Together’s LGBTQ+ community experts
- Volunteer training and support to build a wider network of digital champions
- Opportunities for people across the UK to join sessions online or access help remotely
- Outreach to health, social care and community organisations to ensure the project continues to grow
This structure will help us reach LGBTQ+ people who cannot attend in person or who live in areas where local support is limited.
Why this matters
Older LGBTQ+ people are more likely to live alone, more likely to experience digital exclusion and often face unique barriers to accessing health and social support. When people are excluded digitally, they are also at higher risk of poor health outcomes, financial vulnerability and social isolation.
By combining Out Together’s community-led approach with Patient.info’s trusted health expertise, we are building a model that tackles these inequalities directly. It offers practical skills, emotional support and a sense of belonging, all in one place.
For those of us with strong support networks and confident digital skills, it is a reminder that we are the lucky ones. This project is an opportunity to share that privilege and help others feel connected, capable and valued.
Getting involved
We will share more information about locations, volunteer opportunities and programme dates in the coming weeks. If you are interested in attending a hub, supporting the project or partnering with us, we would love to hear from you.