Digital Lifelines Scotland 2024 Conference

On 10th September 2024, ACRC Academy students Christian Newman (Cohort 4) and Emily Adams (Cohort 1) attended the 3rd annual Digital Lifelines Scotland conference. 

We were particularly motivated to attend the event as both undertaking PhD projects on digital interventions for older people experiencing homelessness and were keen to partake in knowledge exchange with experts in sector.

The Digital Lifelines Scotland programme is managed by the Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre in conjunction with core partners SCVO (Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations) and Simon Community Scotland. It is jointly funded by the Digital Health and Care and Drug and Alcohol Policy Divisions in the Scottish Government and the Drug Deaths Taskforce.

Digital Lifelines Scotland has funded over 30 organisations to support more than 3,000 people at risk of drug-related death or harm to be digitally included, and the numbers keep on growing. 

To support this work over 400 staff and volunteers have been upskilled in digital inclusion. Working with the Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre (DHI), Digital Lifelines Scotland has also supported the co-design of digital harm reduction apps and services.

This year’s conference was an opportunity to be part of cross-sector discussions and interactive workshops. We heard from service providers, policymakers, and sector leaders about best practices in digital exclusion, innovation in digital harm reduction, and a person-centred approach to digital inclusion.

Some highlights included:

1. SCVO's 5 Pillars for action in Scotland's digital inclusion road map.

To have full digital inclusion, the five challenges which must be solved for people are: 

1. Motivation - to be part of the digital world, free from any personal barriers; and  
2. Access to the right device – the ability to afford an internet enabled device that is suitable for your needs and the task in hand; and  
3. Affordable connectivity – so that you can connect your device to the internet; and  
4. Skills and confidence – to navigate the internet, keeping yourself safe, doing the things you want to do; and 
5. Inclusive design – when you get online, spaces are well designed so that everyone can use them.  

The broader enablers that help achieve this are: 

• Policy – ensuring a clear commitment to tackling digital exclusion is an integral part of delivering digital public services; 
• Partnerships – organisations work together to tackle digital exclusion, playing to their strengths; 
• Resources – organisations have the capacity and a supportive environment to enable them to appropriately embed work to tackle digital exclusion. 

2. Simon Community report on their new harm reduction app- By My Side

By My Side is an app designed for and by women using Simon Community Scotland services—a one-stop shop for harm reduction. This app was developed through our A Digital Approach to Harm Reduction project, where we worked closely with women supported by Simon Community Scotland to promote harm reduction within the digital sphere. This project saw the co-design resources for women who use drugs, made by women who use drugs, all these resources can be found in one place on the app.

3. A moving poem written by a recipient of digital inclusion support, reflecting on the experience of being digitally excluded

Finally, the opening speaker bravely and wonderfully summarised the urgency and importance of digital inclusion:

"Digital Inclusion saved my life"

Harbour Ayrshire representative

This sentiment is highly motivating for us as researchers as we endeavour to gather evidence and advocate for the digital inclusion of older people experiencing homelessness.