Devices to be delivered to digitally-disconnected 'shielders' in Moray

Moray Council’s library service was successful, as were other third-sector organisations, in applying to the Scottish Government’s Connecting Scotland project. In total 120 devices will be distributed locally, a dozen of these by the council’s library service, as part of the project to get 30,000 digitally-excluded households online this year. This phase of the project will see the iPads or Chromebooks go exclusively to some of the most vulnerable in the region, who have spent much of the year shielding to protect themselves from Coronavirus.

Learning Centre Co-ordinator for Moray Council’s library service, Anne Owens, said the library service will also offer recipients remote tuition, to support users to make the most of the technology.

“We’ve seen so much of our lives transition online this year, from video calls with loved ones during lockdown, to clubs and organisations holding virtual meetings, a surge in streaming services – and demand for our online library catalogue has soared. For those without access to technology, it can be extremely isolating.

“By providing these devices, and teaching recipients how to use them confidently and safely, they’ll be able to connect with friends and family, learn, shop and interact online – many for the first time.”