The independent Evaluation of DLS by Figure 8 Consultancy found:
“The DLS programme has had a positive impact – it has helped more people get online and develop digital skills, made it easier for them to engage with support services, improved their wellbeing by reducing isolation, and provided new ways to stay safe and reduce immediate risks of harm. These changes show how digital inclusion can be a powerful tool to support people.”
View the full suite of DLS Evaluation Reports on the DHI website:
- Evaluation of the Digital Lifelines Scotland (DLS) Programme – SUMMARY REPORT
- Evaluation of the Digital Lifelines Scotland (DLS) Programme – FINAL REPORT
- Evaluation of the Digital Lifelines Scotland (DLS) Programme – SUPPORTING EVIDENCE REPORT
- Digital Lifelines Scotland – EVALUATION LOGIC MODEL
The positive Evaluation of DLS supported the decision by the Scottish Government Drugs Policy Division to approve £783,150 for year 1 of an anticipated 3-year DLS Phase 3, subject to further funding.
After assessment of applications submitted last month DLS were delighted to announce East Ayrshire and Angus Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADP) will be the locations for the new phase.
A place-based and person-led approach will incorporate Digital Inclusion and Digital Products workstreams and seek to identify new ways of working to better integrate Digital Services for people who use drugs. DLS will be supporting the locations to deliver to key Scottish Government priorities detailed in the recently published Population Health Framework.
Remaining at the core of the programme will be Communities of Learning, and the team intend engaging widely with previously funded organisations and other interested ADPs. Please contact the team if you would like to be kept informed of future opportunities digital.lifelines@dhi-scotland.com
DHI will be co-ordinating their leadership of DLS with their participation in SUMIT seeking to maximise the synergies that exist between the two initiatives. The SUMIT project (Substance Use and Mental Health Interventions using Digital Technology) is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
Led by Queen’s University Belfast Communities and Place (QCAP), the initiative will work with project partners and associate partners to develop three new digital products to add to, and enhance, existing health and social care services. These innovations are in direct response to shared challenges identified across the island where individuals with substance use and mental health issues are often faced with compounding barriers including poverty, stigma, and poor physical health with additional challenges accessing treatment and support. DHI will lead on the procurement of the three new digital products in collaboration with colleagues at the Connected Health & Wellbeing Cluster in Dundalk.
The SUMIT partnership is made up of partners Queen’s, Trinity College Dublin (TCD), the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the University of Strathclyde’s Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), and the University of St Andrews (USTAN). Associated Partners include Developing Healthy Communities NI, Start 360, the Northeastern Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force, Alcohol Forum Ireland, The Wheel, the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action, the Dundalk Institute of Technology, and NHS Fife.
Digital Lifelines Scotland is managed by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) in conjunction with core partners SCVO and Simon Community Scotland. The third phase of DLS is funded by Drug and Alcohol Policy Division in the Scottish Government with previous phases receiving funding from Drugs and Alcohol Policy, Digital Health and Care Divisions and the Drug Deaths Taskforce in the Scottish Government.
Discover more about Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre:
The Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI) was established in 2013 and is a key enabler and catalyst for change, occupying a unique and visible position at the heart of the innovation ecosystem for digital health and social care in Scotland. Our expertise and influence allow us to play a pivotal role in building a fairer, inclusive, accessible, and equitable health and social care system by harnessing the power of Scotland’s public, private, and third/ charity sectors.
