Target reached!
Our future plans: We will continue to campaign for digital equality by working and c...
Ending Digital Exclusion in Scotland
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Aim
800,000 people in Scotland are estimated to face digital inequality, affecting their social and financial wellbeing. Help us change that.
How would you feel if you didn’t have access to the internet at your fingertips? Can you remember when you last used other ways to look for a job, send a message, or share photos and stories with friends?
The Digital Divide
We now live in a digital world, where if you don’t have access to the internet, you lose out on some crucial connections to help with day-to-day living, essential family planning, and overall health, wellbeing, and social inclusion. The prominence of digital in our lives continues to grow, influencing how we communicate, complete basic tasks, keep track of our finances, and much more. This has been accelerated by the pandemic, with many services moving online and some continuing to favour online or remote support even as restrictions ease.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, governments and large corporations made digital pledges to tackle the digital divide, including the Vodafone UK and charity partner Barnado’s ‘The Great British Tech Appeal.’ However, many local communities remain unnoticed and isolated from the digital explosion!
In the UK:
- An estimated 6.3 million people are non-users of the internet, and these people are disproportionately from a lower socio-economic background
- 1 in 5 people are digitally excluded and therefore often socially and financially excluded
In Scotland:
- 800,000 people are estimated to face digital inequality
- Over a third of households in lower-income brackets do not have any internet at all
- The issue is not just about supplying suitable technology. Beneficiaries must also be provided with the appropriate skills, confidence, mentoring, and support for the long term. (Digital Exclusion In Scotland, Inspiring Scotland, June 2020)
In Edinburgh:
- The Poverty Commission in 2020 highlights the fact that Edinburgh has some of the highest areas of poverty in Scotland but that the solutions are within our grasp with a goal of eliminating poverty by 2030.
- People Know How’s 2020-2021 Reconnect Report analysed that the main need of digital support is: Home Learning (28%); Job Applications/Education (24%); Accessing Resources (13%); Living alone/isolated (12%); General enquiries (9%); Learn/increase digital skills/confidence (6%); Socialising (8%)
- Craigentinny, North Edinburgh, community faces the most acute challenges of poverty and social inequality in the country, as defined by the Scottish Government’s Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) 2020. People Know How has been working with them to campaign to maximize local resources, renovate local playgrounds, introduce superfast broadband, and provide digital connections.
Think Big, Start Small, Act Now!
As a Scottish social innovation charity, our passion is solving social issues. We’ve been working with people and communities since 2013 to develop innovative strategies and services to address social issues, including the strategic aim to ensure that everyone in Scotland is digitally included and has affordable data.
People Know How’s Connectivity Now campaign: Over the last 5 years, we have supported the creation of networks of local groups from across four sectors: third, public, academic, and business. Through these networks, we're now campaigning to end data poverty and achieve Connectivity Now. There is real strength in the dialogue, collaboration, and willingness of people to work together: peopleknowhow.org/connectivity-now
We have a mission to help people access and gain knowledge to use digital tools, helping them take control of both their social and financial wellbeing.
“We believe that digital inclusion and social inclusion are inextricably linked and together can contribute to enhanced wellbeing. Our projects provide a supportive environment to reduce social isolation through building digital skills and maintaining connections. We can help people stay connected, improve financial health, increase employability, access resources, and more.”
Glenn Liddall, Chief Executive & Founder
You can help us launch our campaign in Craigentinny, tomorrow!
Think Big!
Paving the way for digital equality:
Learning from our extensive research and direct one-to-one support via our Reconnect and adult befriending service, helped us pave the way for the launch of our national campaign Connectivity Now:
‘Campaigning to end data poverty in Scotland through collaborative partnerships and lobbying towards influencing policy change.
Start Small!
Reconnect Communities:
Recently termed the “Forgotten Land,” by a Local Counsellor, Craigentinny is recognised as one of the small areas of deprivation in Edinburgh.
We’ve been working in the local community of Craigentinny since 2015 and acknowledge the ongoing digital divide between the local community and Edinburgh as a whole.
Act Now!
Reconnect Craigentinny:
By creating a Digital & Wellbeing Group for the area, we can support at least 10 people per week face-to-face, accompanied by ongoing support via our telephone helpline.
Our Digital & Wellbeing project focuses on providing support with digital skills through adult befriending, where a trained befriender designs a program that addresses each individual's specific needs.
Case Study:
Our Digital & Wellbeing Team work directly with local people in their local community by arranging drop-in sessions in local community hubs, churches, and libraries.
There is no requirement to register, there is no limit to the number of people who attend or their age. We are here to help everyone get connected.
Jim’s story, February 2022, told by Filip, Digital & Wellbeing Coordinators, Filip:
Who’s Jim? Jim was referred to us by his work coach from the Department of Work & Pensions in February 2022. He had been homeless and obtained property 7 months before our support started.
Why was he referred? Jim had a device and was using a public hotspot to access the internet. He was low in confidence and didn’t know what to expect from our service. He needed time to open up to others.
How did we help? We needed to set clear objectives, firstly to improve his confidence to receive support, and then start to learn the basics of the computer, and learn how to register himself onto platforms such as healthcare professionals and job sites.
What support did we provide? Jim attended weekly drop-ins at our Ferry Road office, where he received a Mifi (mobile data router) for constant internet access. He completed several courses on Learn My Way. When supporting him to write his CV, we identified all of the transferable skills he has. He was also able to watch videos and read material on interview techniques and questions to pre-prepare. This then encouraged him, with our support, to apply for jobs, prepare for an interview and get ready to start a new job!
A successful outcome: Jim is now very confident about his device (laptop) and is willing to learn more about other devices like tablets. Each week he became more open and willing to talk as if his life had a purpose again. Through his hard work, dedication, and openness to learning, Jim has managed to get a job as a support worker. He starts very soon and we are looking forward to seeing how he progresses. He is very keen on continuing to come to drop-ins and doing online courses to improve his skills.
Why support our Reconnect service?
Drawing on five years of experience in delivering digital equipment and support, we offer an innovative project that is holistic, person-centred, flexible, and underpinned by deep local knowledge: peopleknowhow.org/reconnect
An award-winning service: Awarded the Quality in Befriending Excellence Award by Befriending Networks, our Befriending volunteers are a key part of our service. PVG checked and trained to provide one-to-one digital & wellbeing support, our Befrienders come from a variety of backgrounds, demographically and geographically, meaning we can match people with befrienders who have similar interests, enriching the befriending experience.
Reconnect Craigentinny: By supporting this campaign, you will be directly helping digital inclusion locally as well as helping us continue to campaign for connectivity for all nationally. This, in turn, will benefit your local and national economy by increasing people's access to learning, job searching, social media, online shopping, and overall health and wellbeing.
Our future plans: We will continue to campaign for digital equality by working and collaborating with local communities, local partners, businesses, and academics. We call this Connect Four: peopleknowhow.org/connect-four
Ongoing collaboration and planning: Via ongoing monitoring and evaluation, training, and networking, we will use the evidence from each of our Digital & Wellbeing Drop-in centres to assess how having access to the internet benefits the whole community, and by working with local partners, governments and businesses, we can show direct evidence of how a ‘Reconnected Community’ benefits everyone.
“We want to continue to reach out to our local communities, offer a friendly ear, a friendly face and, on some occasions, a friendly digital device!”
“Join the campaign to Reconnect communities by making the internet available to everyone.”
A bit more about us:
Our main offices are in Edinburgh and we work primarily in Edinburgh and East Lothian, with all parts of the community including children, young people, families, adults and the elderly. Our team is international, receiving volunteers, interns and placement students (our VIPs) from all over the world. Find out more at:
The National Emergencies Trust has provided £4,425 of match funding
Aviva Community Fund has provided £3,125 of match funding
This project successfully funded on 28th June 2022