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Covid-19: £500,000 for digital support solutions
£500,000 has been made available for technology companies who come up with digital support solutions for people who need to stay at home because of coronavirus.
The government has strongly advised everyone to reduce social interaction to help minimise the spread of the virus, especially those aged 70 or over, people with underlying medical conditions or pregnant women.
The ‘Techforce19’ challenge aims to support those who need to stay at home for several weeks and need help, including those who need mental health support or who have social care needs. In its current offering, funding of up to £25,000 per company is available.
Digital solution could promote remote social care, optimise the volunteer sector, improve mental health support or supply other solutions to ease pressures on services and people during this time. Technologies will supplement existing support for those who may be most affected by staying at home for long periods of time.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Staying at home and avoiding contact with others will be absolutely necessary in reducing the spread of this virus and ultimately it will save lives. However, we know isolation is not easy – especially for older people, those who live alone, have mental health problems or those who care for others. If people cannot leave the house, we need to quickly find ways to bring support to them and today I am calling on the strength of our innovative technology sector to take on this challenge.
“Techforce19 will mobilise the UK’s incredible reservoir of talent to develop simple, accessible tools that can be rolled out quickly and help tackle the effect of social isolation. I am calling on our brilliant tech sector to take on this challenge.”
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