Digital Inclusion – Parklea Branching Out

Funded through BBC Children in Need, the Digital Inclusion sessions are a collaborative project between Parklea Branching Out and Access Technology Scotland. Sessions focus on improving the digital skills of participants by facilitating a digital inclusion programme within the PBO site.

The digital inclusion workshops provide participants with an introduction to the various techniques and softwares used to create digital content and the skills and knowledge to use them.

From this participants and Access Technology Scotland collaborated on the “Virtual Garden” project. Through this outreach programme of activity the aim was to build individuals confidence and self esteem by increasing employability skills, volunteering opportunities, meeting new friends as well as having fun.

Participants were able to use the skills they gained to begin to create their own digital content. Weekly blog posts and videos were created promoting the work they carried out during the Virtual Garden project. The videos created are currently hosted on YouTube as well as being posted below.

Additional one on one digital sessions have continued, with a number of participants being awareded with their own digital technology through the Scottish Government’s Connecting Scotland fund. These devices are to lessen the impact of social isolation, allowing participants to stay in communication with their peers. Additionally they have been able to use them on site to work on their own individual projects.

As well as improving participants digital skills, they are also improving their literacy and numeracy, with these being embedded through all sessions.

Sessions take place throughout the week but are currently restricted to one to one sessions due to current government guidelines.

Working in partnership with Inverclyde CLD, an independent website was created specifically with Clients in mind, being a space where regular learning activities could be uploaded so that clients and their families can remain engaged. With the activities having literacy and numeracy embedded throughout they are not only a great way to keep individulas stimulated but lessen the impact of social isolation.

Unlike its sister site, the “PBO Digital Squad” site is specifically tailored towards clients, with them being at the centre of its content, offering them learning activities as well as keeping them up to date with what is happening. The site can be found at https://pbodigital.wixsite.com/mysite

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