We’ve just announced Tinder Foundation’s third annual conference – Digital evolution: leaving nobody behind – which will take place at the BT Centre in London on 19 November.  This year I’m keen to make sure we’re concentrating on the three main barriers to digital inclusion – motivation, skills and access.

If we can overcome these obstacles, I’m pretty convinced our vision of a 100% digitally included Britain can be realised. High employment, world class skills, better health, lower crime rates, improved education and booming business – it’s all within our grasp, and for everyone, if we look to target these barriers at a hyper-local level.  

The idea of the conference is for us to come together to share and develop fresh ideas for digital inclusion, and I’m really looking forward to talking to UK online centres and guests from the wider world of digital participation to galvanise and focus our collective action for 2014-15.  

We’re delighted to have new CEO of Go ON UK Rachel Neaman speaking, as well as founder of FutureGov, Dominic Campbell, joining us. Boasting years of digital experience and a track-record of innovation within the digital sector, I’m looking forward to hearing their insights regarding tackling the barriers to digital inclusion, and their vision for our future.  

Workshops are being developed in order to examine key themes and innovations, where delegates will be able to break out and brainstorm best practice, and their own barriers and solutions at grassroots level.  

For me, one of the highlights of the conference is always the chance to network and meet the people who work at the coalface of digital inclusion on a daily basis. It can be easy to forget with all the facts and figures, reports and policy changes, that it’s the people working within communities who really instigate change and inspire participation.  

I’ve said it before, and I think it’s worth repeating, but it’s people who help people – technology is just a tool to do it. And having so many of those people in one room is pretty special.    

If you want to be a part of this celebration of all things digital inclusion, then why not book your tickets now? Earlybird tickets are still available, so grab them while they’re hot! You can also read about last year’s conference here, and see what previous delegates said about it here.  We’re looking to make this year’s event even bigger and better.

I’m already excited to see you all there!