News

Get Digital Scotland will “open digital doors” for homeless people

The new digital inclusion campaign will launch today creating 250 ‘digital champions’ to ensure vulnerable people aren’t left behind in digital age

Digital Inclusion Officer 1347

A new digital inclusion initiative will launch today in Scotland to give homeless people the computer skills “other take for granted”.

Two of Scotland’s leading homelessness charities Streetwork and Simon Community Scotland will unveil Get Digital after receiving a £250,000 grant from the Scottish government to create ‘digital champions’.

This will see 250 workers from the two charities receive training to provide support to people experiencing homelessness in learning digital skills and engaging with the digital world.

Digital exclusion and the inability to use computers and tablets or access the internet can make it impossible to even fill out the simple forms need to access vital services. The annual Lloyds Consumer Index found that 910,000 Scots do not have basic digital skills.

The Get Digital tools, training and support will then be shared with other homelessness service providers across Scotland.

Simon Community Scotland has already spearheaded a response to the digital exclusion issue, working with Glasgow City Council to create a new digital inclusion officer role where a person roams the streets with an iPad to help rough sleepers apply for benefits and housing.

The Big Issue joined Elaine Jameson on the streets of Glasgow last month to see first-hand how the role she took up last October is helping make a difference.

And now the work is poised to be scaled up to work across the whole of Scotland.

Kate Forbes MSP, minister for public finance and digital economy, will help officially launch the nationwide scheme at an event in Edinburgh today.

“Digital should open doors for everyone,” said Scottish Digital Minister Kate Forbes MSP ahead of today’s launch in Edinburgh.

“The Get Digital programme recognises the power of digital to provide those affected by homelessness with the opportunity to improve their digital skills and achieve their goals.”

Streetwork’s digital inclusion programme manager Jamie Trout added: “Without digital skills, people experiencing homelessness face a real barrier in trying to find solutions to their situation.

“Through Get Digital, we are opening up an entire world of opportunity. Using their newly-acquired skills, people can begin accessing the online world and the opportunities it brings.”

Image: Jamie McFadyen

Support the Big Issue

For over 30 years, the Big Issue has been committed to ending poverty in the UK. In 2024, our work is needed more than ever. Find out how you can support the Big Issue today.
Vendor martin Hawes

Recommended for you

View all
Council tax is going up for millions in April. Here's what to do if you're struggling to pay
council tax/ houses
Cost of living crisis

Council tax is going up for millions in April. Here's what to do if you're struggling to pay

Water bills are going up in April 2024. Here's what to do if you're struggling to pay
Cost of living crisis

Water bills are going up in April 2024. Here's what to do if you're struggling to pay

Care worker faced homelessness as low pay left her with 'nothing' to fall back on
social care/ abbie bowler
Social care

Care worker faced homelessness as low pay left her with 'nothing' to fall back on

Housing crisis: Shared ownership an 'unbearable reality' which has 'failed to deliver', MPs warn
Housing

Housing crisis: Shared ownership an 'unbearable reality' which has 'failed to deliver', MPs warn

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Here's when UK households to start receiving last cost of living payments

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know