By Darran Gillan
Hi everyone!
I’m Darran Gillan, and I’m excited to be stepping into the Research Lead Role on the IN+ Principles Analysis Exploratory Project with INCLUDE+. It’s a privilege to join such a vibrant and thoughtful network committed to digital equity, creativity, and community transformation. With a background in digital inclusion, community development, and youth engagement, my goal is making sure that people, especially those who are often left behind, have the skills to navigate and thrive in an increasingly digital society. Whether that’s been running grassroots projects or supporting communities to critically challenge the digital spaces they inhabit, my focus has always been on inclusion that’s meaningful and sustainable.
Understanding the IN+ Principles
Since stepping into this role, I’ve spent time exploring what the six IN+ Principles of Meaningful Digital Inclusion, Collective Care, Diversity, Responsiveness, Sustainability, and a Holistic Approach, really mean in practice. What I’ve come to understand is the principles represent both a values framework though alignments between the IN+ Principles and the frameworks of critical pedagogy, community organising , and social justice theory.
If you examine the principles of Collective Care or Responsiveness and how it embodies Freire’s dialogical approach focused on the lived experiences of those navigating the shifting landscape of digital society. Sustainability, meanwhile, challenges us to think beyond pilot projects and towards long-term systems change, community-owned infrastructure, and digital sovereignty.
Exploring the IN+ Principles in Action
So far, my analysis of the INCLUDE+ projects have shown me how these principles can be embedded in community-centered action. Take the IN+ ART Iterations programme, which works with artists and communities to explore digital equity in creative ways. Or the New Narratives project, which supports refugees and asylum seekers to shape their own civic participation through digital tools. These initiatives don’t just ‘deliver services’ they centre lived experience, but have the potential to share power, and experiment with new ways of working challenging the status quo.
Through my ongoing exploration of the IN+ Principles, funded projects, and feasibility studies, one thing has become increasingly clear, how people experience digital life is deeply shaped by context, whether that’s language, geography, culture, or access to resources. This highlights the importance of a holistic approach to designing digital inclusion projects and programmes that are context specific, not one-size-fits-all.
Rethinking meaningful digital inclusion: one IN+ Principle at a time.
While digital literacy is undeniably important, there’s often a tendency to treat it as a universal fix (as Dr Alicja Pawluczuk argues in this post). If we focus on digital literacy only in the context of digital inclusion, this might overlook the broader systemic, structural, and intersectional factors that influence how people engage with technology.
There’s also a clear tension between our aspirational goals for digital equity and the practical realities of implementation and Responsiveness, especially for frontline community workers navigating limited time, tools, and support. To move forward meaningfully, we need to go beyond basic access and consider not just what people can do online, but whether they feel safe, confident, and supported doing it.
This is where the concept of critical digital literacy becomes so important. It’s not just about using digital tools, it’s about understanding how those tools shape our lives, identities, and opportunities. Framing digital inclusion through this lens leads to a richer and more transformative vision of digital equity.
As I’m working my way through the IN+ Principles analysis, I continue to learn about the importance of relationships and Collective Care. What makes the difference especially with marginalised communities isn’t the tech itself, but the presence of meaningful, non-judgmental relationships built on love, trust, and mutual respect. These human connections are often treated as secondary in digital policy, but they’re foundational. When we name and prioritise love, respect, and trust as part of our approach to Meaningful Digital Inclusion, we introduce a much-needed human dimension. Collective Care in this instant is an essential precondition for any truly inclusive digital engagement.
Finally, achieving digital equity means embedding Diversity into the design process from the start, not retrofitting it later. We need to anticipate how inequalities might show up at every stage of a programme and work intentionally to address them. Of course, applying these principles isn’t always easy, especially in a digital world dominated by big tech companies.
A lot of the tools we rely on are owned by corporations whose priorities don’t always match our own. That creates a tension, how do we use these platforms while still staying true to values like Meaningful Digital Inclusion or a Holistic Approach? It’s a question I’m really interested in exploring further.
Ultimately, the INCLUDE+ Principles have helped me see digital equity as something intersectional, relational, and deeply contextual. It’s about designing from the ground up with empathy, collaboration, and justice at the heart. I’m excited to dive deeper into these principles in the months ahead, uncovering their potential to shape a more inclusive, equitable digital future for the INCLUDE+ network and beyond.
