New strategy launched to drive digital inclusion in Scotland

The Scottish Government has launched an initiative to tackle digital exclusion, which is affecting thousands of people across Scotland.

Partnering with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the government has introduced a new charter that provides organisations with a “framework to action” towards digital inclusivity.

Minister for public finance Ivan McKee, who attended the launch event, said digital inclusivity was “fundamental” for the government to achieve its key priorities.

Currently, around 700,000 people in Scotland – equivalent to around 14 per cent of the population – have no access to the internet, it is claimed.

The charter, hosted and managed by SCVO, states that digital inclusion is “everyone’s responsibility” and outlines how to “restructure and resource digital inclusion work" through five pledges. Each pledge urges firms across the private, public and third sectors to adopt measures such as developing a digital champion programme and taking baseline measurements of the digital skills within their organisation.

During the launch event Sally Dyson, head of digital and development at SCVO, also highlighted the role the voluntary sector plays in achieving digital inclusion.  

She said: "SCVO has been leading the charge for digital inclusion in Scotland for more than 10 years now. We work collaboratively across our sector and beyond to make sure that we drive home the message that everyone is responsible for digital inclusion.”

The new scheme comes less than a week after research by Citizens Advice Scotland showed the number of its clients who lack the skills to use the internet had risen by 60 per cent since 2022.

Dyson added: “We know that the digital divide seems to be widening over time, and we think that every organisation in Scotland can get involved in supporting the people they work with.”

Back in January, she told Holyrood, that failing to bridge the digital divide would “widen the poverty gap” and added there had been a “bit of buck-passing” in solving the issue.

Andy Young, spokesperson Standard Life which hosted the launch said: "We are a digital-first organisation,  but we recognise that digital can be a barrier for some people, so we’ve made it a priority to help those who need extra support through delivery of our digital inclusion strategy.

"We welcome and support the work that SCVO is doing in this space, and are pleased to commit to the principles outlined in the Digital Inclusion Charter, which will provide a vital framework for organisations across all sectors to help those who want to become more comfortable using technology in their everyday lives.”