Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

60,000 households helped online by Scottish Government initiative

The funding has supported the provision of Chromebooks, iPads and MiFi devices to the most vulnerable.

Craig Paton
Sunday 30 January 2022 00:01 GMT
The programme was described as a ‘vital lifeline’ (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
The programme was described as a ‘vital lifeline’ (Dominic Lipinski/PA) (PA Archive)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A Scottish Government project has helped members of 60,000 households across the country get online.

Connecting Scotland has funded almost 5,000 projects through just over 1,000 organisations at a cost of £48 million.

A total of 30,462 Chromebooks, 29,697 iPads and 51,021 MiFi devices have also been handed out to the most vulnerable in the country, along with unlimited data for the next two years.

Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said: “The aim of our £48 million Connecting Scotland programme was to ensure people who faced the most barriers to accessing online services were supported and not left behind as a result of the pandemic.

“This programme has provided a vital lifeline for many people by helping families maintain virtual contact and allowing users to access public, health and employment services that were only available online as a result of Covid.

“As well as helping more than 60,000 more households access services online, this has been an investment in the future of our digital economy and will help wider efforts to close the digital divide by ensuring as many people as possible have the skills required to enter the workforce.”

The Scottish Government pledged to get 300,000 more Scots online by the end of this parliamentary term.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in