Good practice Imported

Get Digital

United Kingdom · Edinburgh · Local · See the United Kingdom profile · See the Edinburgh profile

Evidence: Descriptive / self-reported Top 80% 52/100 · Ask Evidence Copilot about this practice

The aim of Get Digital is to nurture and resource the digital capability of Scotland’s homeless sector through training, support and tools. They want people affected by or working in homelessness to experience an improved quality of life by benefiting from the digital world. Get

78%

Streetwork service users with mobile phone access

Details

Maturity: Scaling
Promoter: Streetwork — website
Type: System
Status: Ongoing
Target groups: Unemployed and those facing social problems
Period: 2019-03-01 – 2021-12-31
Keywords: digital inclusion, homeless, vulnerable groups, social inclusion, employment

Context

Get Digital, run by Streetwork (Simon Community Scotland) in Edinburgh, addresses low digital capability across Scotland's homeless sector; 78% of Streetwork's service users had access to a mobile phone, but more support was needed to help them and staff benefit from digital and online services.

Objectives

To nurture and resource the digital capability of Scotland's homeless sector in three parts: (1) workforce development to increase employees' digital skills, (2) increasing digital inclusion for service users, and (3) expanding the digital inclusion programme from Streetwork to wider partners across Scotland.

Activities

Streetwork began with workforce development as it transitioned to G-suite, then developed a Get Digital Assessment tool based on the Essential Digital Skills (for life) framework, shaped through consultation with service users, volunteers, staff and managers. Digital skills assessment is being integrated into existing support-plan processes. Partners include Simon Community Scotland, Streetwise, Turning Point Scotland, Churches Action for the Homeless, Aberdeen Cyrenians and Transform. Streetwork secured Scottish Government funding in 2018 to embed digital inclusion in homeless service delivery.

Implementation

Indicative cost: Medium (€50k–€500k)
Time to results: Medium (1–3 years)
Staffing & skills: Streetwork/Simon Community Scotland employees, Get Digital Champions (staff/volunteers at partner organisations)

Conditions for success

Consultation with service users, volunteers, staff and managers to shape the assessment tool
Integrating digital-skills assessment into existing support-plan processes
Scottish Government funding secured (2018) to embed digital inclusion in service delivery
Partner network across Simon Community Scotland, Streetwise, Turning Point Scotland, Churches Action for the Homeless, Aberdeen Cyrenians and Transform

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