Devices and mifi internet access for digitally excluded people

CONNECTING SCOTLAND – devices and mifi internet access for digitally excluded people – Phase 2 – application process now open and closes 11:00am 5 October 2020

The Connecting Scotland programme aims to connect digitally excluded people so they can access services and support and connect with friends and family during the pandemic.

Successful applications will receive devices (iPads and chrome books) along with 12 months internet connectivity. The application process is now open for services who are supporting adults who meet the application criteria and where that service will be able to continue to support them with a digital champion for at least 6 months but potentially up to 12 months. If successful the service will also have to provide ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the client’s progression, skills development and outcomes to the SCVO for the Scottish Government.

There will be an on-line training module that your nominated digital champions will complete (this takes around two and a half hours) to prepare them for the remote digital training they will provide to the person with the new device. In addition to this a National phone helpline is being set up and we hope to hear more about this in coming days.

If your service does not have the resource or capacity to assign a member of staff to become the digital champion for an individual, we are in the process of arranging digital champions from other sources to assist you, however it will still be the responsibility of the service applying for the device on behalf of their client, to provide the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the client’s progression, skills development and outcomes to the SCVO for the Scottish Government. Please contact Allison Honeyman or Lynn Anderson (contact details at the foot of the message) if you are a service who needs this assistance.

Eligibility criteria
This phase of Connecting Scotland aims to provide iPads, Chromebooks and support to develop digital skills for individuals who are:
1. digitally excluded – do not have an appropriate device and/or are not connected to the internet at home; AND
1. on low incomes so cannot afford to buy a device or pay for internet access;
1. and ARE EITHER
1. households with children or where a child is normally resident (this includes pregnant women with no child in the household): OR
2. care leavers up to the age of twenty-six (in line with eligibility for aftercare support)

Getting online will help individuals access public services, support learning and training, help find or maintain work and provide resilience in the event of further lockdowns.

More information and the application can be found here https://connecting.scot/for-organisations  

Dundee City Council is assisting SCVO to reach eligible services who may want to apply and with assessing the applications. We also have some contacts who may be able to provide you with digital champions if you are unable to provide this - Allison Honeyman – 07930532527 allison.honeyman@dundeecity.gov.uk Lynne Anderson 01382 431269 lynne.anderson@dundeecity.gov.uk