Rethink Ireland & Vodafone launch €540k fund to bridge digital divide for older adults in Ireland.

Nearly half (46%) of persons aged over 75 years had never used the internet according to CSO (2021). To help bridge this digital divide, Rethink Ireland and the Vodafone Foundation have launched the €540,000 “Hi Digital Fund”. 

This two-year fund will support five innovative organisations that are providing services for older adults aged 65 and above to develop essential digital skills. Applications for the fund are open from 14 April and close on 23 May 2025. Applications can be made here. 

The fund will provide cash grants and business supports for social innovations that enhance digital literacy and inclusion for older adults in their community, bridging Ireland’s digital skills gap. It promotes innovative approaches to ensure no one is left behind, teaching essential skills like smartphone use, e-health and smart home tech. 

The Hi Digital Fund has been created by Rethink Ireland – the funding body thinking differently to create a more just, equal and sustainable Ireland – and is supported by the Vodafone Foundation, private donors and Department of Rural and Community Development via the Dormant Accounts Fund. 

“Digital exclusion is a silent crisis affecting thousands of older adults across Ireland.” said Deirdre Mortell, CEO of Rethink Ireland. “Through the Hi Digital Fund, we’re not just teaching tech skills—we’re reconnecting people to essential services, reducing isolation, and enabling independent aging. This fund represents a critical investment in ensuring no older person is left behind in our increasingly digital society.” 

Head of Vodafone Foundation, Liz Roche stated: “At Vodafone Foundation, we believe that everyone, regardless of age or ability, should have access to the digital world. By funding Rethink Ireland,  we will grow to support five new organisations across Ireland so that they have the resources to help older adults improve digital literacy skills and online confidence. We’re dedicated to reaching even more isolated people and making technology accessible for all”. 

To be eligible for application, an organisation must:

• Enhance digital literacy, promote social inclusion, and improve the quality of life for elderly individuals through the use of technology. 
• Enhance community well-being by leveraging digital solutions to address challenges faced by elderly populations. 
• Focus on bridging the digital divide among older adults, particularly those facing socio-economic disadvantage or marginalisation. 
• Projects that utilise evidence-based strategies and best practices in promoting digital literacy and social inclusion for older adults, ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability of interventions. 
• Projects that collaborate with public bodies or other stakeholders to maximise impact, with a primary focus on community or third-sector projects leading the initiative. 

This fund will support diverse community initiatives and sustainable digital literacy programmes that remove barriers for older people who are unfamiliar with the digital world. The Vodafone Foundation will donate €250,000 over two years, with an additional €20,000 from private donors, totalling €270,000. The Department of Rural and Community Development will match this amount via the Dormant Accounts Fund, resulting in a total fund of €540,000. 

Join one of our application clinics on Wednesday 30th April 2025 and Tuesday 13th May 2025. These one-hour webinars will provide information on fund eligibility and the application process and offer an opportunity to answer any questions you have. Register for an application clinic here: 

Wednesday 30th April at 10am - Register here 

Tuesday 13th May at 3pm - Register here