News / IT access funding
SHETLAND Islands Council has been awarded nearly £47,000 to improve access to digital technology and help develop the IT skills of individuals throughout the islands.
The funding comes as changes to the benefits system across the UK require more and more people to be able to use and access the internet to search for jobs and complete benefit claims.
The local authority, Shetland College and other partners had identified a gap in support for those in rural areas.
External funding has allowed for a project to be developed to provide access and support to benefits claimants living in some of Shetland’s more remote communities.
It will build on the college’s network of learning centres and will include running classes and an investigation into whether new hardware needs to be introduced in remote locations.
SIC social services committee chairman Cecil Smith said the matter had been a concern in the past year and he was “delighted the council has been successful in drawing in external funding, in what was a very competitive process”.
Scottish welfare minister Margaret Burgess said the £678,000 resilience fund Shetland is benefiting from was launched last year and “aims to mitigate some of the worst effects of Westminster’s welfare reforms”, which are affecting “the most vulnerable members of our society”.
“The fund is now supporting a range of mitigation projects across 11 local authorities and includes support for mental health issues, fuel advocacy services, housing and money advice and increasing digital access,” Burgess said.
She added: “The Scottish Government is taking direct action and delivering real support to help people deal with the cuts and changes to welfare provision.”
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