Funding for tech firms who find digital support solutions for those isolating

The government is providing £500,000 of funding for technology companies who come up with digital support solutions for people who need to stay at home because of Coronavirus.

The ‘Techforce19’ challenge aims to support those who need to stay at home for several weeks and need help. This could include people who need mental health support or who have social care needs.

Funding of up to £25,000 per company is available.

The programme is looking for digital solutions that can be launched in the next few weeks, and could include:

• Providing remote social care – for example, by locating and matching qualified carers to those in need
• Optimising the volunteer sector – for example, by developing tools to recruit, train and coordinate local volunteers into clinical and non-clinical workers.
• Improving mental health support – for example, by making it easier to discover and deliver mental health services and support.
• Any other solutions to ease pressures on services and people during this time.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock, commented, “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.”

To find out more about contracting please contact Charlie on 01442 795 100 or email charlie.brooks@contractorumbrella.com.