What is Reconnect?
Reconnect offers support to adults and families to help them improve wellbeing by increasing digital and social inclusion. We do this by providing in-person support in Edinburgh and the Lothians and through our Digital Support helpline, offering digital support across Scotland.
We believe that digital inclusion and social inclusion are linked and together contribute to enhanced wellbeing. We provide a supportive environment to reduce social isolation through building digital skills and maintaining connections, helping people to stay connected, improve financial health, increase employability, access resources and more.
We also help adults recovering from addiction to become digitally included. Scotland has the highest drug-death rate in Europe. Increasing digital inclusion creates opportunities including finding recovery groups, discovering useful tools and apps, tracking housing applications, applying for Universal Credit, keeping in touch with family or rediscovering hobbies online.
We are a UK Network Ambassador with Good Things Foundation, delivering training across the UK.
How does it work?
We used a three-faceted approach to digital inclusion, providing support through digital groups, one-to-one, and through the Digital Support Helpline. Through these interventions, we can help with:
- Using devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops or desktop computers
- Connecting to the internet
- Navigating the web and social media
- Completing everyday tasks online
- Connecting with the community, family and friends
- Accessing support networks
- Managing finances, paying bills and saving money online
- Reducing costs (energy providers, data plans, shopping, etc.)
- Finding opportunities for education and employment
- Feeling less isolated and having someone to talk to
- Learning more about the upcoming PSTN phone line switch-over to digital - for customers of any landline service provider
Hear what it's like to attend one of our digital groups, as featured on the Keeping Edinburgh podcast.
Over-the-phone digital support
Call us from anywhere in Scotland
Do you have a question about digital? Ask us anything!
Call our Digital Support Helpline from anywhere in Scotland. The helpline is open from Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, and offers support with computers, tablets, laptops, smartphones, connectivity and all things digital.
We run the helpline in partnership with the Scottish Government and SCVO. We are also partnered with BT and in conversation with numerous telecoms providers including Virgin Media O2, Vodafone and Sky, allowing us to provide support and information about the switch to digital landlines.
0800 0590 690
In-person digital support
Edinburgh & the Lothians
One-to-one
We offer both one-to-one and group in-person digital support. Individuals can be referred or self-refer for one-to-one support using the form below.
Digital groups
We also run digital groups with partner organisations across Edinburgh and the Lothians, providing opportunities to learn about technology, feel supported, meet up with others, and feel more included in the community. You don't need to have a referral to come to these groups and can pop by as little or as often as you like. Each session is designed from the experiences and input of our coordinators to make them easy, enjoyable, and open to anyone who needs help with digital, including families, young adults, those seeking employment and older people.
We're open to developing new groups in collaboration with community centres, other agencies, charities and anyone that is working with adults, to support their digital and wellbeing needs. If you are interested in this please get in touch.
Enter your postcode or browse the map below to find the digital group closest to you. Each group runs at a different time during the week. You can pop into any open group listed on this page.
Let's end data poverty
Our learning from delivering Reconnect has informed our national campaign to end data poverty, Connectivity Now
With demand for Reconnect projects growing during the pandemic, the need for action in Scotland to combat digital exclusion and in particular data poverty has become increasingly clear. Our Connectivity Now report and manifesto map three key actions that we believe can end data poverty. Read the report and join our campaign today.
Read our stories
Read our latest case studies and find out more about Reconnect in action.
Volunteer
Got a spare couple of hours a week?
Become a Digital Support Volunteer. You could support adults and families to improve digital and wellbeing at our digital groups. From offering a friendly ear to supporting someone to use a digital device, you'll be making a difference in someone's life.
We'll provide training, support and opportunities for personal development.
Collaborate
Work with us to end digital exclusion and data poverty
If you're an individual, organisation or community group interested in collaborating with us, we'd love to hear from you. Whether you want to develop a new digital group in your space or join our campaign to end data poverty, please get in touch.
Donate
Help us continue to support people to improve digital inclusion
Donate to People Know How and help us improve people's wellbeing and solve social issues. There's a few ways to donate, including direct donations, charity prize lotteries, or via the Give as you Live extension which allows you to donate while shopping online at no cost to you.
Our partners, funders & supporters
Thank you to our funders, partners and supporters past and present for making Reconnect possible. As well as the funders listed below, this service is also funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
