Digital & Social Inclusion
DSI is Our Responsibility
Due to insufficient hardware, internet accessibility, technical know-how, and learning prospects, a significant portion of Manchester’s population are unable to fully engage with the online world.
This limits their ability to participate fully in today’s digital society, hindering access to education, job prospects, essential services, and more. For many individuals impacted, pursuing a career in the tech industry can be unattainable.
At MTF we believe that as one of the UK’s fastest growing tech hubs, Manchester has a collective responsibility to close this digital divide, which is why we launched our own Digital & Social Inclusion programme.
By working with sponsors, attendees and local charities – we contribute to food banks, provide hardware donations, and facilitate volunteering opportunities for students in order to directly confront the primary issues perpetuating digital poverty in Manchester.
OUr Programmes
At MTF, we focus on the three main areas:
Pathways into Tech
Through our pathways into tech programme MTF offers sponsors an opportunity to connect with educational settings across Greater Manchester. Through a series of workshops and talks, companies can inspire and inform future generations about careers in tech.
Foodbank Donations
All of our MTF lead up events are free to attend in return for a small donation of feminine hygiene and sanitary products, baby food, nappies or even bars of soap. These donations are then distributed in the community to ease the impact that socio-economic status has on digital inclusion.
Hardware Donations
Working with local charity Community Computers, MTF facilitates a hardware collection service allowing our sponsors and network to effortlessly donate hardware which is cleaned and refurbished before being distributed to those in need.
Diversity & Inclusion
At MTF, diversity, equity and inclusion is at the forefront of everything we do. Throughout the festival we ensure a number of tracks are committed to DEI topics, such as women in tech and neurodiversity. We also work to create spaces for individuals with marginalised identity markers, such as our Queer Co-Working days in DiSH Manchester.
