A new partnership has been formed to tackle digital poverty in Scotland after a recent report from the voluntary sector warned progress achieved during the pandemic had stalled.
The Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) is partnering with the newly-formed Digital Inclusion Alliance (DIA), a national initiative supported by the Scottish Government to end digital exclusion across Scotland.
It is being established as an independent, multi-sector organisation, with the Scottish Government participating as a member alongside other public, private and third sector partners.
The development comes following a scathing report released by the voluntary sector body SCVO earlier this month, which called for ‘urgent action’ to address deeply inequality when it comes to access to online services.
As part of the DIA, the Scottish Government will be backing research into the state of digital exclusion throughout Scotland and providing guidance on the most deprived regions and the areas where charity partners can have the greatest impact.
Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, said: “Ending digital exclusion requires social and systemic change, and working with the Scottish Government through the Digital Inclusion Alliance is a springboard for meaningful action across the most digitally deprived areas within Scotland.”
She added: “Millions of people are still suffering without essential digital services that many of us take for granted, from online education to digital healthcare services, fuelling child poverty and job market challenges at significant cost. Tackling this needs a cross-sector approach to build and carry out sustainable, long-term solutions that work to end digital poverty once and for all.“
“Guided by the research of the DIA, the Digital Poverty Alliance’s work in Scotland will become more targeted and more impactful, bringing devices, digital skills and prioritising affordable digital access to those who need it most,” she added.
Current research suggests that one in nine households within Scotland remain without internet access, while 15 per cent of the adult population lack foundational level digital skills.
Through the partnership, the DPA will work with the DIA to coordinate engagement with local authorities, private sector and public services, align efforts to tackle structural barriers to digital inclusion, and support joint advocacy and communications on digital inclusion. In August, the UK Government launched a £9.5 million fund to support digital inclusion, a portion of which will be available for bids for Scottish organisations later this year.
Following a series of successful device donation and redistribution initiatives in England, the DPA rolled out its first Tech4Families programme in Scotland in 2022, providing laptops, tablets, internet connectivity and digital skills support to children in Ayrshire.
This will be supported by a new series of DPA initiatives in Scotland, based on the DIA’s research, including an upcoming rollout in the Highlands.
The DIA will:
- Conduct research into the state of digital exclusion in Scotland
- Provide guidance on the most digitally deprived regions
- Coordinate engagement with local authorities, private sector and public services
- Align charity efforts to tackle structural barriers to digital inclusion
- Support joint advocacy and communications on digital inclusion