Digital Inclusion
Digital Lifelines Scotland has committed to improving digital inclusion for people who use drugs, including building confidence, skills and motivation.
In 2021, the programme responded to the recommendations of the Drug Deaths Taskforce with a goal of reaching a minimum of 2,000 people who are at risk of drug related harm and 200 staff with the digital inclusion element of the programme funding provided.
The Digital Inclusion workstream activity, led by delivery partners SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations) and Simon Community Scotland during phase 1 and 2, has ensured that the programme:
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Scaled up the approach to date, building on learning from the grant funded organisations.
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Offered a package of supporting resources to participants
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Provided a framework for benefits realisation
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Enabled a heightened profile for the evidence that this works
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Engaged with another sector partner in the delivery of the programme
Grant Funded Programmes - Phase 1 & 2
Phases 1 and 2 of Digital Lifelines Scotland rolled out five Digital Inclusion Grant Funding programmes from 2021 to 2025. The aim of the Digital Inclusion Grant Funding programmes was to complement the programme's wider discovery work and bring key learning from organisations working to make digital inclusion a reality for people at risk of drug related harm and death.
Launched September 2021 with an aim to understand in greater detail what interventions work most effectively with which people under what circumstances. We provided small grants to ‘overlay’ the provision of digital inclusion interventions on to some innovation projects funded through the Drug Deaths Taskforce, who encompass a wide range of circumstances and people operating across Scotland in urban and rural areas. They seek to innovate with a wide range of different approaches and service designs, including around the Medicine Assisted Treatment Standards, overdose response, peer to peer naloxone supply, families Holding On project, and a Scottish Ambulance Service roll out of take-home naloxone. Nine projects received grants of up to £15,000.
Click here to find our Early Adopter 1 interim report and other reports.
A total of nine projects received funding:
East Ayrshire ADP (Alcohol and Drugs Partnership)
East Ayrshire ADP sits within the Health and Social Care Partnership and works with partners across the Council to reduce alcohol- and drug-related harms.
CHAI (Community Help and Advice Initiative)
CHAI supports and empowers people and communities across Edinburgh and Midlothian through free, confidential, high-quality and impartial advice, information and representation on welfare benefits, money, housing and employability.
Angus ADP (Alcohol and Drugs Partnership)
A multi-agency partnership with representatives from statutory and voluntary organisations. The group delivers key outcomes to address substance misuse in Angus, influences planning and commissioning, and ensures that services meet local needs.
Fife ADP – Clued Up Project
Clued Up provides a comprehensive, youth-friendly substance use support and information service for young people under 25 across Fife. It also addresses wider lifestyle and well-being issues, offering education, prevention, early intervention and diversionary support.
Fife ADP – Restoration Fife
A peer- and volunteer-led community group for people in recovery. It offers a wide range of activities (open to family, friends and children), support, social events and opportunities that reduce isolation and promote recovery.
Fife ADP – FASS Action, ADAPT Project
ADAPT is Fife’s main drug and alcohol triage service. It provides needs assessments, referrals to NHS and Third Sector services, and early interventions, information and education to help prevent substance-related problems.
Fife ADP – Frontline Fife Homelessness Services
The Recovery Link service supports people with drug and/or alcohol addictions who wish to begin their recovery journey or who require support to sustain their recovery programme.
Scottish Recovery Consortium (SRC)
SRC supports, represents and connects the recovery community across Scotland.
People Know How
A Scottish social innovation charity based in Edinburgh and East Lothian. They work with people and communities to develop innovative strategies and services that address social issues locally and nationally.
My Support Day
A South Lanarkshire–based charity supporting families and loved ones affected by someone else’s substance use. Support is person-centred and delivered through one-to-one sessions and group support, both in-person and online.
Turning Point Scotland (TPS)
Turning Point Scotland supports people facing complex and challenging circumstances. They deliver high-quality services and drive improvement across Scotland’s social care sector through leadership and innovation.Launched in April 2022, the second phase of Early Adopters focused on addressing key pain points where digital inclusion could have the greatest impact. These included the field of homelessness, the point of discharge from hospital or residential services, and the early period following release from custody.
Nine projects received grants of up to £85,000.
Bethany Christian Trust
A national charity dedicated to ending homelessness in Scotland, supporting individuals, families and communities through a wide range of services.
Glasgow City Mission
The world's first City Mission, founded in 1826. Glasgow City Mission provides Christian care to vulnerable adults and children, working to combat poverty and disadvantage in Glasgow.
Grassmarket Community Project
An organisation taking an innovative approach to building community, offering sanctuary and support to people facing multiple complex issues including homelessness, mental and physical health challenges, learning difficulties, poverty, substance misuse and abuse.
Recovery Enterprises Scotland
An organisation supporting individuals, families, friends and local communities to engage in, support and sustain recovery from multiple barriers.
Recovery Scotland
An independent voluntary organisation and charitable company operating in the Forth Valley area since 1975, with expanding partnership work in South and North Lanarkshire.
Salvation Army
A church and charity working at the heart of communities across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. With 650 churches and community centres, they provide friendship, practical help and support to disadvantaged people.
Shine
A national mentoring service for women offenders, delivered as a Public Social Partnership between public and voluntary sector organisations. Shine has been operating across Scotland since 2013.
Simon Community Scotland
A charity focused on providing housing and support for people experiencing homelessness. They work across Scotland to help people resolve their homelessness and recover from difficult circumstances.
Turning Point Scotland
Turning Point Scotland supports people facing complex and challenging situations, delivering high-quality services and driving improvement in Scotland’s social care sector through leadership and innovation.Launched in January 2024, the third phase of Early Adopters aimed to address the remaining gaps in the programme across the three focus areas: homelessness, the point of discharge from hospital or residential services, and the early period following release from custody.
Nine projects received grants of up to £50,000.
A total of nine projects received funding:
East Ayrshire ADP (Alcohol and Drugs Partnership)
East Ayrshire ADP sits within the Health and Social Care Partnership and works with partners across the Council to reduce alcohol- and drug-related harms.
CHAI (Community Help and Advice Initiative)
CHAI supports and empowers people and communities across Edinburgh and Midlothian through free, confidential, high-quality and impartial advice, information and representation on welfare benefits, money, housing and employability.
Angus ADP (Alcohol and Drugs Partnership)
A multi-agency partnership with representatives from statutory and voluntary organisations. The group delivers key outcomes to address substance misuse in Angus, influences planning and commissioning, and ensures that services meet local needs.
Fife ADP – Clued Up Project
Clued Up provides a comprehensive, youth-friendly substance use support and information service for young people under 25 across Fife. It also addresses wider lifestyle and well-being issues, offering education, prevention, early intervention and diversionary support.
Fife ADP – Restoration Fife
A peer- and volunteer-led community group for people in recovery. It offers a wide range of activities (open to family, friends and children), support, social events and opportunities that reduce isolation and promote recovery.
Fife ADP – FASS Action, ADAPT Project
ADAPT is Fife’s main drug and alcohol triage service. It provides needs assessments, referrals to NHS and Third Sector services, and early interventions, information and education to help prevent substance-related problems.
Fife ADP – Frontline Fife Homelessness Services
The Recovery Link service supports people with drug and/or alcohol addictions who wish to begin their recovery journey or who require support to sustain their recovery programme.
Scottish Recovery Consortium (SRC)
SRC supports, represents and connects the recovery community across Scotland.
People Know How
A Scottish social innovation charity based in Edinburgh and East Lothian. They work with people and communities to develop innovative strategies and services that address social issues locally and nationally.
My Support Day
A South Lanarkshire–based charity supporting families and loved ones affected by someone else’s substance use. Support is person-centred and delivered through one-to-one sessions and group support, both in-person and online.
Turning Point Scotland (TPS)
Turning Point Scotland supports people facing complex and challenging circumstances. They deliver high-quality services and drive improvement across Scotland’s social care sector through leadership and innovation.Launched in December 2022, the Small Grants fund aimed to support local voluntary and community organisations working with people at risk of drug-related harm or death.
Eight projects received grants of up to £10,000.
East Ayrshire Churches Homeless Action
East Ayrshire Recovery Hub provides support and resources for individuals beginning their recovery journey. Their mission is to promote and develop recovery groups, activities and volunteering opportunities across East Ayrshire.
Restoration Fife
Restoration Fife is a grassroots recovery community group supporting people to sustain recovery from substance misuse, both during and after treatment, by offering a range of activities in a safe environment.
Red Chair Highland
Red Chair Highland is a micro social enterprise based in Inverness, supporting people in crisis or those who are significantly disadvantaged. They deliver digital outreach services across the Highlands, providing digital inclusion support to digitally excluded, isolated and vulnerable individuals.
Irvine Sports Club
Through the “No Wrong Door” approach, Irvine Sports Club’s “Time to Talk” project offers support, training, employability, rehabilitation services and signposting. It aims to provide whole-person wellbeing support and create stronger, better-connected communities.
Recovery Ayr
Recovery Ayr is a grassroots recovery group in South Ayrshire offering peer-led support and activities for individuals, families and the wider community.
Zone Out Partnership
The “Up For It” project enables volunteer peer educators—already delivering Zone Out’s SQA peer education programmes across East Dunbartonshire, Edinburgh and North Lanarkshire—to enhance their learning, personal development, self-management and social connectedness by building their digital skills, knowledge and confidence.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award – Perth and Kinross Association
Their project supports the development of a digital and community hub, giving young people a warm, accessible space where they can access support, self-manage, build peer networks, advocate for themselves and access digital support, information and training.Input
Based in Ayrshire, Input is a charity providing work preparation for people with additional educational needs. Trainees refurbish donated computers for reuse in the local community, building work principles and skills through hands-on tasks.Launched in July 2023, the Follow On Fund aimed to continue supporting organisations previously funded through the programme that had demonstrated strong success in helping people at risk of drug-related harm or death through digital inclusion.
Six projects received grants of up to £65,000.
People Know How
A Scottish social innovation charity working across Edinburgh and East Lothian. They collaborate with people and communities to develop innovative strategies and services that address social issues locally and nationally.
Recovery Enterprises Scotland
Recovery Enterprises Scotland supports individuals, families, friends and community members to engage in, support and sustain recovery while facing multiple barriers.
Angus Alcohol and Drugs Partnership
A multi-agency partnership with representatives from statutory and voluntary organisations. It delivers key outcomes to address substance misuse in Angus, influences service planning and commissioning, and ensures that provision meets local needs and priorities.
Simon Community Scotland
Simon Community Scotland provides housing and support for people experiencing homelessness. Working across Scotland, they help people resolve their homelessness and recover from extremely challenging circumstances.
Grassmarket Community Project
Grassmarket Community Project creates community by providing sanctuary, support and opportunities for people facing multiple complex issues, including homelessness, mental and physical health challenges, learning difficulties, poverty, substance misuse and abuse.
Recovery Scotland
An independent voluntary organisation and charitable company working across the Forth Valley area since 1975, with additional partnership activity in South and North Lanarkshire.