Following a successful application to Connecting Scotland, Fife Housing Group has been awarded 150 devices to help reduce digital exclusion amongst their tenants.
The Chromebooks and MiFis are being offered to support families who don’t currently have a suitable device for their children to access home-schooling resources online.
The group’s fully trained Digital Champions are also on-hand to provide help and advice to anyone who is unsure about setting up or using their new equipment.
Housing manager and digital motivator Beverley Graham said: “Around 800,000 people in Scotland still face digital exclusion, and providing these devices to support our tenants at this difficult time is part of our ongoing commitment to reducing this number.
“Eligible families are being supplied with laptops, which are theirs to keep, and offered access to free Wi-Fi for two years – something which we hope will make a huge difference to some of the digitally-excluded households in our local area.”
The group says initial feedback from recipients indicates that anticipated benefits are already being realised and delivering positive impacts for tenants and their families.
One resident said: “I just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you for the kindness shown in giving a Chromebook for my son’s learning at home.
“We couldn’t be more grateful. This will help massively with his home-schooling and relieve a great deal of pressure and stress for my son.”
Read next: Nick Walkley to step down as head of Homes England
Are you a social housing professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.
