Michael and his family's lives were transformed after a call to the Connecting Scotland Digital Support Helpline, keeping them connected to the digital world.
When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, many migrants and asylum seekers who were moving through the process of temporary accommodation were faced with even more added challenges.
During the pandemic, access to the internet was crucial in helping families and friends stay in touch throughout lockdowns and periods of self-isolation. Connecting Scotland was established by the Scottish Government and SCVO to address the impact that digital and online access had on our wellbeing. The scheme distributed over 61,000 devices and free internet access to homes, offering people the support they needed to get online were now available.
People Know How supported over 4,000 individuals during this time while also operating the Connecting Scotland Digital Support Helpline. We continue to run the helpline and have since expanded it to offer free support with digital to anyone in Scotland who needs it.
Home comforts
One caller to the Connecting Scotland helpline in October 2023 was Michael. Michael and his family came to the UK adopting asylum seeker status as they looked to make a new home and life in Scotland.
During the pandemic, Michael received internet data from Connecting Scotland that allowed him and his family to connect with the digital world. At the end of last year, he contacted the helpline as the free data he had been provided was running out. Speaking with Acting Reconnect Team Leader Kirsty, Michael explained that this connectivity had been “lifesaving”. Before this, he and his family had been without WiFi and a connection to the online world, leaving him feeling isolated and battling depression.
After his call to the helpline, Kirsty managed to help Michael continue to receive free internet, helping his family continue to connect with home and share culture with new friends.
Being an asylum seeker has led to Michael and his family regularly swapping homes, as they find a place to permanently reside; having internet data at their fingertips means there’s one less stress of moving houses, allowing them to focus on new opportunities and each other. Today’s young people have the additional benefit of internet access to learn about new cultures, history, art and science. If the helpline had not existed, Michael’s children would be cut off from this knowledge, hampering their ability to complete schoolwork and grow as they learn more about the world.
The power of music
Michael is a musician, and music is a large part of his family’s life. When Michael and his family first arrived in Scotland the lack of internet connectivity meant he couldn’t keep up with music and struggled to maintain a connection with his culture and home.
Music has been revolutionised thanks to the digital world with access to a music catalogue at our fingertips; for a musician like Michael, this has been “a light in his darkest days”. It’s not only been a way to relax and feel at home but also a learning tool for his children. Thanks to the connection provided by Connecting Scotland, they’ve been able to improve their English vocabulary and confidence through online music.
Many of us take digital access for granted, having never had to worry about being denied access to key services or feeling isolated and out of touch with what goes on in the world. It has almost unlimited resources across oceans and can make anywhere feel like home. Around 1.7 million homes in the UK are without internet access, denying people access to social, societal and welfare needs. From checking travel plans to communicating with a friend to reading an article like this one – the internet is embedded in most people’s lives. Resources like the Connecting Scotland Digital Support Helpline are needed so we can work towards improving digital inclusion in Scotland.
If you or someone you know could benefit from free digital support, the helpline is available Monday – Friday 10:00am – 4:00pm and can be called for free on 0800 0590 690