Digital Lifelines Scotland has committed to improving digital inclusion for people who use drugs, including building confidence, skills and motivation alongside access to devices and connectivity.

The programme has reiterated in response to the recommendations of the Drug Deaths Taskforce 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, ensures that the programme:

Scales up the approach to date, building on learning from the grant funded organisations.
Offers a package of supporting resources to participants
Provides a framework for benefits realisation
Enables a heightened profile for the evidence that this works
Engages with another sector partner in the delivery of the programme

Find out more about our Digital Inclusion Grant Funded programmes across Scotland

DLS Map

Digital Inclusion Assets

The programme's Digital Inclusion model includes access to the following Digital Lifelines Scotland assets:

Device Catalogue
Digital Inclusion Playbook
Digital Harm Reduction Training Programme

Digital Inclusion Reports

Read our grant funding impact reports to find out about the amazing impact our funded organisations are making to people they support at risk of drug related harm.

Small Grants Fund Impact Report, July 2024

This report provides a summary of the impact of the funding to date from organisations funded through the Small Grants Fund 2024.

Click here to view the report.

Early Adopters 3 Interim Impact Report, July 2024

This interim report provides a summary of the impact of funding after 6 months delivery from organisations funded through the Early Adopters 3 Fund.

Click here to view the report.

Follow On Fund Interim Impact Report, July 2024

This report provides a summary of the impact of the funding to date from organisations funded through the Follow on Fund.

Click here to view the report.

Follow On Fund Interim Impact Report, February 2024

The Follow On Fund continued the work of some organisations who were funded through the Early Adopter 1 & 2 programme. The Interim Impact report provides an insight into the learnings.

Click here to view the report.

Small Grants Fund Impact Report, February 2024

The Small Grants fund supported small, local organisations to continue or extend digital inclusion activities with people at risk of death from a drug overdose and those who care about them and support them. The report provides an insight into the impact of the work.

Click here to view the report.

Early Adopters 1 Interim Report

The aim of the Early Adopter 1 phase was to take learning from the experience of the organisations to influence the longer-term Digital Lifelines programme. This report covers our learnings from the programme.

Click here to view the report.

Digital Inclusion to Prevent Drug-Related Deaths: Scoping user needs

Drug Research Network for Scotland, a Digital Lifelines partner, has gathered the experiences and views of people who use drugs and those who support them about their use of digital technology, the challenges and barriers they face, and the support they would like. This slide deck provides a summary of their research (January 2022).

Click here to view the slide deck.

Want to read the full report? Get in touch with nss.digitallifelines@nhs.scot