Connecting Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative managed by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. Find out more
Health
recipient of a device from Lanarkshire Association for Mental Health“The gift of the iPad has opened a whole new way of coping for me - reading other people's stories and found I wasn't alone, so many people were struggling with grief.”
Internet access can be a lifeline when managing our physical or mental health, giving us the tools to help in our daily lives or to understand diagnoses, find services and can help us to cope with the most difficult stages of life.
recipient of a device from Barmulloch Community Development Company“My daughter was diagnosed with Autism and we were given lots of websites to look at. Been great learning everything.”
Kenny, who was supported by Fife Social Work Services"I couldn't complete forms for the GP online, but now I can do that too like everyone else."
recipient of a device from Lanarkshire Association for Mental Health“I’ve started a mindfulness course to help ease stress and anxiety.”
Meet Mary, talking about social anxiety and how the Connecting Scotland device has been a lifeline.
Meet Susan, talking about the positive impact on one of their service users in rural South Lanarkshire whose child has autism.
Meet Graham, a Digital Champion in Cambuslang, talking about the positive impact on the mental health of one of their service users.
Joanna's story
Joanna received a device and internet connection from NHS Western Isles. Joanna is living with Parkinson’s and is also profoundly deaf. Joanna was suffering with low mood due to feelings of isolation within her own family and the wider community as a result of her hearing loss.
Angela, Parkinson’s Specialist Nurse, and Louise Ann, Community Navigator, demonstrated to everyone within the family on how to use the speech-to-text function. The primary aim was to assist with communication, but also to enable understanding of Joanna’s illness, clinical assessment, and more importantly consent.
Speech-to-text is an inbuilt function available to everyone for dictation. Joanna now uses it when friends and family are speaking, so she can then read their words, a helpful addition to other hearing tools, like hearing aids. The local Occupational Therapy team has viewed the device in use and is so impressed with it, that the team is now planning to use it with a number of other patients.
"It's a fabulous tool. I am now able to ‘hear’ what has been said and am no longer being left out of conversations."
Ruby, who received a device and support from Forres Area Community Trust.
Freedom Of Mind Community Choir, with music directors Kim Edgar and Mariot Dallas. Online singing sessions during lockdown helped improve members’ mental health and combat feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Quotes from organisations
Christina, Egilsay Community Association, Egilsay, Orkney. During the six years prior to receiving the device Gavin had to travel to Aberdeen for multiple appointments with an oncology consultant, a two day round trip."Gavin has just had his first VC [NHS virtual consultation] with a consultant at Aberdeen on the Chromebook provided by you. It was wonderful for him to be able to see and speak to a consultant in a relaxed atmosphere at home without all the stress of travel from Orkney to Aberdeen.”
Marion, Tenancy Sustainability Manager, Berwickshire Housing Association“The best thing for me to see was the change in my learner. He lost his wife during lockdown and was depressed. He was allocated an IPad and is now enjoying using it to take amazing photographs! He has also joined Facebook and is keeping in touch with family and friends!”
Lorraine, Housing Officer for Fife Council housing support"Margaret, 79, recently visited hospital for surgery. Margaret took part in a virtual consultation appointment with her specialist. After being discharged, Margaret did not feeling up to cooking so she ordered food online through an app which she found easy and convenient."