A digital skills project in Stoke-on-Trent has won a national award after being funded with more than £800,000 from the city council's UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

DigitALL, created by local organisation Wavemaker, has helped nearly 2,300 people across the city gain digital skills and confidence. The programme has distributed 751 digital devices to residents who could not afford them, provided 194 guided learning hours and carried out more than 400 face-to-face sessions.

National Recognition

The project's learning platform won at the Digital Technology Leaders Awards 2026 in the 'Digital Programme Excellence' category. It competed against organisations including Rightmove, the Bank of England and the British Heart Foundation.

Funding and Partners

The project received £552,417 from Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 2024/25 and a further £262,575 in 2025/26 through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Partner organisations delivering DigitALL include The Inspirational Learning Group, Framescape and Raparu Consult CIC.

What Wavemaker Said

Ben McManus, Co-Founder of Wavemaker, said: "Winning this national award is an incredible honour and a proud moment for everyone involved in the DigitALL project. To see a digital inclusion programme developed here in Stoke-on-Trent recognised on a national stage is a fantastic achievement."

McManus added that the funding from Stoke-on-Trent City Council enabled the team to develop DigitALL into a platform that has helped thousands of local people build digital skills, confidence and opportunities for work, education and everyday life.

Council Support

Councillor Sarah Hill, cabinet member for finance, anti-poverty, governance and corporate services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "Wavemaker has done amazing work to bridge the digital divide in the city, and this award is recognition for these efforts. The DigitALL project has helped transform lives and futures across Stoke-on-Trent by giving people digital confidence and helping them fulfil their potential."

More information about DigitALL and upcoming workshops is available on Wavemaker's website at wavemaker.org.