Throughout the UK only 37% of people living in social housing are online. Fear and cost are given as human factors that stop people making their first steps on the internet.
Glasgow Housing Association (GHA), the Scottish Government and BT have teamed up to give more than a hundred households in a Knightswood multi-storey block a new tablet and affordable access to high speed wi-fi points throughout the building. The project also means tenants and housing officers can report and manage faults, pay and process bills and complete other business.
Access is coupled with both structured and drop-in training sessions in the community flat to help residents to get online, develop new skills and connect with family and friends and new opportunities. Digital skills training is vital to ensure people become self-sufficient and confident in the digital world, and that these essential 21st century skills remain sustainable in the longer term within people's lives and their community.
The Click and Connect project is backed by more than £70,000 of funding from the Scottish Government. It is the first large-scale Scottish project of its kind and is believed to be among the first in Europe. It is part of BT's Connected Society programme that helps people gain the skills and confidence they need to join the online community and has been recently recognised by Government Digital Services' Checklist for Digital Inclusion.
Evelyn McDowall, Business Solutions Leader for GHA's parent company Wheatley Group, said, "We believe that getting online and having access to the internet can change people's lives for the better. Getting online from home, at a time and place that suits our social housing tenants, can improve job prospects, reduce bills and also benefit their studies. We are working closely with all of our partners to identify the best digital services which will help our tenants access a whole world of possibilities at their fingertips."
BT Scotland director Brendan Dick said, "The idea of giving tenants the ability to get online is one that many housing associations across the UK are considering, but here in Glasgow it is already a reality. The exciting thing for us is that the system we've developed for Glasgow is both simple and cost effective. If the trial is a success, it could be replicated by housing associations UK-wide."
Content on this page is provided by BT, sponsor of the technology and innovation hub.
