The Scottish government has awarded funding as part of the Scottish Government’s Digital Inclusion Programme which is intended to help people access online support services.

The funding will initially be used in mental health and housing services.

Thirteen winning projects will develop, test and implement programmes to help people access the services they need  online  to support their health and wellbeing.

The first phase of the programme, which is worth £600,000, is being delivered in partnership with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and will benefit more than 1,500 people by building skills and confidence, as well as devices to support access to digital services in mental health and housing.

The following programme will run for two years and will create a shared understanding and learning of how best to support digital inclusion in mental health and housing.

Cabinet secretary for NHS recovery, health and social care, Michael Matheson said: “Supporting people to feel more digitally confident so they can access the services they need online is absolutely vital and it is one of our long-standing commitments.

“This programme will see models tested that will help so many people gain the skills they need to improve their own health and know how to access the support that is available to them.”