More projects receive funding to help people get online

SCVO media release 17 November 2015 The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) has awarded £195,000 of funding to 19 projects across Scotland to help people learn the basic skills they need to get the most out of the internet. BT Scotland has also made a contribution of £25,000 to support seven additional projects. The full list of successful projects includes Community Safety Glasgow, Falkirk Football Community Foundation and the Cairngorms Learning Partnership. This is the third instalment of the Digital Participation Challenge Fund which will allocate £325k to community projects across Scotland to help people improve their digital skills. Chris Yiu, Director of Digital Participation at SCVO, said: "This is great news for all these projects which will now be able to make an even bigger difference to people’s lives right across Scotland. It’s really exciting to know that we’re another step closer to making sure that everyone can get online.” Brendan Dick, BT Scotland director, said: “BT‘s committed to helping people across society benefit from being connected, so we’re proud to support the SCVO Digital Participation Charter. As well as providing access to high-speed broadband across Scotland, BT wants to go even further. We share the Scottish Government’s view that everyone in our community should have the basic skills to participate fully in our digital world. “Once individuals identify internet uses that will benefit them, their skills and confidence will quickly develop. Whether that’s shopping, keeping in touch with friends and family or learning something new, the opportunities are limitless. These projects will help ensure even more people across Scotland can start their digital journey.” Ben Glencross, Development Manager at Falkirk Football Community Foundation which is among the successful applicants, said: “In the 21^st Century we sometimes take digital skills for granted, but not everyone has grown up with them and developed skills to apply for jobs on line. Falkirk Foundation helps people access the skills they require for employment. The delivery of a Digital Skills course will help people to apply for positions that require digital skills to apply. These skills will enable them to draft application letters, CV’s and apply for jobs online. This funding will also support our Digital Silver Bairns work to help Falkirk fans and others learn basic digital skills.” Pauline Fletcher, Community Initiatives Manager at Southside Housing Association in Glasgow, which has been awarded £10k funding, said: “Over the last couple of years we have invested in creating a number of community bases across our stock. These community bases (community flats or common space within sheltered housing complexes) are well used by tenants to take part in positive activities that help them to stay healthy, connect with others in their area, reduce isolation and loneliness and learn new skills. “The Challenge Fund will support us to provide WI-FI within the community bases, alongside some IT equipment.  We will then work in partnership with Glasgow Clyde College, Glasgow Life library services, the Nan McKay Memorial Hall, Govan and Craigton Integration Network and the Glasgow Homelessness Network to deliver IT sessions that will support people to learn and become more confident using digital skills to manage day to day activities like on-line shopping, keeping in touch with family, searching for jobs and applying for benefits and welfare rights support.” ENDS

1. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is the national membership body representing the interests of charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. The Scottish third sector turns over £4.9 billion a year and employs 138,000 people in over 45,000 organisations. For more on SCVO see www.scvo.scot
2. Find out more about the Digital Challenge Fund
3. For interview or further comment, please call Charlotte McNeill at SCVO on 07790 601 995