Supporting Scotland's vibrant voluntary sector
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations is the membership organisation for Scotland's charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. Charity registered in Scotland SC003558. Registered office Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh EH3 6BB.
Building digital skills – lessons from around the UK
14 July 2014
Posted in
- Show leadership: Digital connectivity now affects everything that we do, so most projects can be “digital proofed” to identify what opportunities they might offer to help people develop their digital skills. In Liverpool, the city council has integrated its digital inclusion campaign into the city plan and made digital inclusion a key feature in its social and economic policy statements.
- Co-operate: Helping people to get online means working with them at a time, place and speed that suits them. This means that charities, which are already doing great work with those who are digitally excluded, have a vital role to play. But housing associations, health providers, post offices, libraries and many other organisations are also really important. Each partner obviously needs to play to their own strengths. Mersey Police, for example, helped local residents worried about safety in their area to use Skype to contact their neighbours or the police.
- Have a plan: If there isn’t a clear plan there is a risk of duplication or of people “falling between the gaps”. The Digital Fife project, run by Fife council, has a great approach where people work together and learn from each other. The project helps voluntary and community groups to build their own websites and, in return, these groups are asked to become digital leaders and support other individuals and groups to get online.
- Focus on the person not the tech: Conversations with people about going online are often best when they start with people’s interests not with the technology. Wiltshire Council recruits, trains and supports digital champions – local volunteers who support people in their neighbourhood to get online. The volunteers, who are not digital experts, work with people one-to-one at a speed they are comfortable with.
- Be holistic: For most people who aren’t online there is no single barrier which is preventing them from getting connected – issues of cost, confidence, motivation and skills are all major obstacles. Tackling digital exclusion must aim to address all of these issues otherwise it is unlikely to be successful. In Glasgow, social housing provider the Wheatley Group is piloting this joined up approach to help get tenants online, including providing them with free Wi-Fi, use of laptops or tablets and access to training to develop their digital skills.
- Involve communities: The internet is by definition a method of social engagement, so it makes sense that activities should be social too. Sunderland Council's community IT programme uses many community-led activities to tackle digital exclusion, including “electronic village halls” – digital support hubs based in community centres, social housing organisations or faith groups.
- Make it fun: The internet brings great social and economic benefits but it should be a source of fun too. Leeds Federated Housing Association sends a bus into different communities across the city, with free Wi-Fi and digital participation activities. They have also created a fictional online family who tweet and blog about their experiences of learning to use the internet.
Last modified on 22 January 2020
