Citizens Online has worked to promote digital inclusion in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland since 2009. Some of their key efforts include: - Reaching over 9,950 individuals through presentations and workshops and engaging over 300 community groups. - Providing training to 1,500 learners for over 4 hours and training 30 digital champions through "train the trainer" sessions in the last year. - Finding that confidence using the internet determines long-term success, with 55% of learners encouraging others and 67% still online after 12 months. - Facing challenges of motivation for offline individuals and ensuring community access points and training meet needs as technology evolves.

1. Digital Inclusion in the
Highlands and Islands
Irene Mackintosh, Citizens Online

2. •An introduction to Citizens Online
•What we have done
•What we’ve found out
•Where we’re heading to…
•How you can get involved
The next 45 minutes (brace yersel’)

3. The internet is for everyone

4. Highlands and Islands since 2009
What we really, really care about…

5. www.hie.co.uk
Hebrides

6. How we’ve been working

7. Our wily ways…

8. Community Groups

9. Roll, VT!
Learner voices, digital champions

10. Our stats for three years
• Number of individuals made aware of the
benefits of digital inclusion, through
presentations, workshops and open days :
9950 ​
• Number of learners undertaking 4+ hours
of study: 1500​
• Over 300 community groups engaged​
• Train the trainer: 30 sessions (within the
last year)

11. • Demographics have shifted from older people to
unemployed.​
• For older learners the links to independent living still need to
be made clearer.​
• 80% of unemployed learners say their Internet skills are
helping them search for work and 13% have found work.​
• Confidence at the end of the session determines success of
being online 1 year later.​​
• 55% encouraging friends and family to use the Internet.​
• In the Highlands – 67% were online after 12 months, all
regular users.​
• 55% had no ongoing support.
What we’ve found

12. We need a ‘more than this’ approach
• Internet uptake has levelled off​
• People moving offline, after previously
being online. ​
• Low uptake of e-Government and banking
compared with Europe​
• Being online is more than a binary activity​
• Technology constantly evolving​
• No clear local lead to ensure that all
partners work to a common strategy​

13. Community Issues
• Insufficient capacity to engage learners​
• Community access points are under
threat, not in area of greatest need​
• Motivation for offline individuals is low​
• Learners directed to training without any
assessment of their existing skills or
additional needs​
• Training doesn’t meet need​
• Lack of ongoing informal support available

14. Systemic, baby!

15. Our Digital Zone - Current Offerings
• Skills Sessions and modelling
• Digital JOY for third sector groups
(volunteers and staff)
• Train the Trainer and support for
anyone offering digital inclusion
activity
• Systemic model

16. Thanks for hingin’ aboot.
Stay in touch!
@irenewarnermack