Who Benefits?

Human Rights logo

In Society:

Food poverty and digital inequality are inextricably linked but often digital support doesn’t automatically sit alongside other types of support in this space.

Example Projects:

Govan Housing Association
Falkirk Food Futures
GEO Nova Scotia
Connecting Scotland

Imagine if you were experiencing homelessness and couldn’t use the internet? How would you access housing information? Claim universal credit? Find the support you needed? Stay in touch with loved ones?

Example Project:

Get Digital Scotland

People currently using drugs are amongst the most stigmatised groups of people, but, in Scotland, at real risk of premature death. Johann Hari noted that the ‘Opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it’s human connection’ and the internet can open up spaces for community, connection, advocacy, compassion, empathy and love.

Example Project:

Simon Community Scotland
Digital Lifelines

Refugees and asylum seekers urgently need access to the internet not only to stay in touch with loved ones, but to access their basic rights, legal representation, key information about living in Scotland and so much more.

Example Projects:

Assocation for Canadian Studies
Safe In Scotland
Scottish Refugee Council

Despite the fact that the internet can open up a whole host of opportunities for people with disabilities, allowing for greater autonomy, independence and connection, people with disabilities are less likely to have the digital skills and understanding they need, often because they haven’t received enough support.

Example Project:

Neighbourhood Networks

People who have living experience of the care system are less likely to have the range of digital skills they need for everyday life, compared to those without this experience, despite the fact these skills can make a world of a difference.

Example Project:

Life Changes Trust

We know that people who don’t have a job, or who are in lower paid jobs, are less likely to have the digital skills they need to find a job, be able to complete application forms online, build digital CVs, never mind perform in an increasingly digital workspace.

Example Project:

Highlife Highland

Older adults are impacted by digital inequality, often never having had the opportunity to explore the digital world, and being left with a feeling that it has all passed them by.

Example Project:

Highlife Highland

Moray Council

People impacted by the justice system often have a range of particular challenges related to accessing, using and making the most of the internet, yet we know it can make a huge difference to offering stability, connection, access to services, such as Universal Credit, and so much more.

Example Project:

Sacro

The internet can open up the world for people in care homes, offering opportunities not only for communication and connection, but also for stronger models of person-centred care.

Example Project:

SCVO Pathfinders

Organisations:

Housing associations not only provide affordable housing for people, but also support the community in which they are located in a diverse number of ways. They can be a vital source of local, accessible welfare information and support and frontline staff can act as amazing digital champions, which also can help streamline services, allowing staff to focus on wider work.

Example Projects:

Govan Housing Association
Cassiltoun Housing Association

Local Authorities provide a range of services to their communities, with an increasing focus on digital delivery. Their physical presence in communities, and in the interest of their own services, make them ideal partners for digital inclusion work. After all, if not all the community can access a service, then it’s not really available for everyone.

Example Projects:

Angus Council
Renfrewshire Council
West Dunbartonshire Council
Dorset Council

People impacted by the justice system often have a range of particular challenges related to accessing, using and making the most of the internet, yet we know it can make a huge difference to offering stability, connection, access to services, such as Universal Credit, and so much more.

Example Project:

Sacro

In the UK, we pride ourselves on universal access to healthcare, but what happens to people who are offline, if our systems are increasingly online? We know there is a link between digital inequality and poorer health outcomes and so we are working increasingly in the space of health and technology enabled care to try and ensure that universal healthcare is really there for everyone.

Example Project:

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
TEC Scotland

There remains an assumption that all young people have the digital skills they need to get by, however research clearly evidences that young people in specific groups are often at a digital disadvantage.

Example Projects:

GEO Nova Scotia
Life Changes Trust

The internet can open up the world for people in care homes, offering opportunities not only for communication and connection, but also for stronger models of person-centred care.

Example Project:

SCVO Pathfinders

Many frontline staff lack the digital skills and confidence themselves not only to help others, but even to really make the most of a transformed digital workplace. For some people, even downloading a payslip, or accessing online learning can be too much. We work across organisations to build skills and confidence with a person-first approach.

Example project:

Dorset Council