Free social community app for adults with learning disabilities and additional support needs

What is the project?

The Insight app by the Innovate Trust is a free social community app for adults with learning disabilities and additional support needs across the UK.

The app’s main aim is to promote digital inclusion and reduce social isolation by offering a safe, accessible and engaging online space for members. 

The app offers an alternative to mainstream social media and fosters a strong sense of community. 

It’s an online space for connecting with friends, taking part in activities and finding volunteering opportunities. 

There are more than 80 weekly events for app members, both online and in-person, including:

• social gatherings and meet-ups
• creative workshops and activities
• outdoor adventures and sporting events
• volunteering opportunities
• online games and quizzes
• discussion groups and forums
• relaxation and yoga activities
• disco nights.

Why is it being carried out?

The app is part of Innovate Trust’s mission to promote digital inclusion, independent living and community engagement. It was developed to create an accessible digital space where adults with learning disabilities and additional support needs can connect, learn and thrive.

It was developed because the team knew that:

• many adults with learning disabilities lack access to digital tools or the confidence to use them
• individuals often face loneliness due to limited social opportunities
• traditional services may not offer enough variety or flexibility
• users may struggle to find meaningful roles or pathways to work
• a lack of opportunities to lead or contribute can affect self-worth. 

It was initially developed to make sure that people remained at the centre of their own data in supported living, specifically their daily updates and records. 

Several people agreed to take part in testing and fed into the development of the app. Their feedback drove the project to become the social community app that Insight is today.

Having initially developed the app for the people they support, the team realised it could be beneficial for a much wider group of people. They released it on app stores so that anyone with a disability could join for free across the UK, and they plan to always keep the app free to download.

The app aims to:

• give users control over their social lives and learning journeys
• build a vibrant, supportive community where everyone feels included
• encourage digital literacy, leadership and communication
• reduce loneliness and improve mental health through regular engagement
• highlight the talents and contributions of people with learning disabilities.

Where and when is the work taking place?

The app was developed in Wales but is being used across the UK. The development of Insight started in 2019 as a pilot co-developed with adults with disabilities.

Who’s involved?

There are more than 120 organisations using the app. The organisations range from advocacy groups and charities to support providers. 

Organisations can share their events and updates while engaging directly with community members. 

Insight gives these organisations a trusted platform to connect with people with disabilities in a space that has been co-developed with and for its members and community.

The app has been funded through a number of grants which have supported community development and new functionality.

What have they learned from the work?

The team faced several challenges, mainly around developing an app that truly met people’s needs.

They also encountered barriers around take-up of the app and changing the way people think about digital access for people who access support.

To address these challenges, they held online sessions with organisations to help them join the app and support the people they work with to access it. 

There were also digital exclusion concerns for people who had no connectivity or devices. The team worked to provide devices to those digitally excluded to make sure they could access the app. They sourced recycled devices both internally and through donations and grants, and also accessed the National Databank.

Some learnings from the project so far:

Digital inclusion
 
More than 2,000 members have joined since launch, many of whom were previously digitally excluded.

The app has helped users build confidence in using technology and social platforms.
 
Social connection
 
Members have formed new friendships and broadened their social networks.

The app hosts many weekly activities, including peer-led events, which foster community and engagement.
 
Mental well-being
 
A supportive online environment has significantly improved users’ mental health and reduced feelings of isolation.
 
Volunteering and leadership
 
The creation of a Volunteering Hub emerged from user feedback, enabling members to find and share opportunities in an accessible space.
 
Recognition and impact
 
Insight won the Best Covid-19 Company Response award from Healthy Working Wales for its role in keeping people connected during the pandemic.