Empowering Communities and Frontline Staff: Discover Digital Reflects on a Year of Progress

The Discover Digital Roadshow and Workshops were launched as new initiatives last year.

In a reflective review, the Discover Digital project shares insights into its impactful Roadshows and Workshops aimed at raising awareness of digital health and wellbeing across Scotland. Since its inception in 2018, Discover Digital has strived to give citizens better choice and control in accessing care and support through digital means. 

In 2021, the project unveiled the Discover Digital Guide, offering a comprehensive resource to navigate digital health, care, and wellbeing tools and services. Building on this foundation, additional funding in 2022 enabled the launch of two new initiatives: the Discover Digital Roadshows and Workshops. 

Discover Digital Roadshows: Engaging Communities 

The Roadshows, tailored for community members, brought digital health awareness to the grassroots level. Through stands at local events, over 600 individuals across seven authorities were empowered with knowledge and confidence in using digital tools for wellbeing. From Carluke to Inverness, these Roadshows showcased various apps and resources, such as Sleepio and Daylight, proven to improve sleep and stress. 

Discover Digital Workshops: Empowering Frontline Staff 

Concurrently, Workshops targeted staff and volunteers in healthcare and community sectors, equipping them with skills to guide service users toward digital health resources. With sessions held both online and in person, the initiative reached over 180 participants, including library workers and charity volunteers, across Scotland. 

Key Findings and Learnings 

Despite the increase in digital resources, awareness among the public and frontline workers remains low. However, feedback from participants underscores the effectiveness of these initiatives. The majority rated the Workshops as excellent and found the content easy to understand. 

Reflections from the project highlight: 

• The importance of partnership – working together with organisations on delivering these initiatives was key.  
• Simplicity in communication – the digital world can involve a lot of jargon which can be confusing and disengaging for people.  
• Finding a hook – this is the thing that draws people to digital. 
• Quality over quantity in content delivery – this helps people to stay engaged and interested.  
• Ongoing feedback – this ensures continuous improvement and relevance. 

Read the full report here: Discover Digital Report – Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (alliance-scotland.org.uk)

Looking Ahead: Future Initiatives 

As Discover Digital evolves, plans for 2024 include reaching more communities and stakeholders with the Roadshows and Workshops.  

Additionally, the project recently launched ‘#TryAToolTuesday‘, a social media initiative, to spotlight trusted health and wellbeing resources weekly. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @DHCScot to explore the tools.  

Get Involved with Discover Digital 

Why not join in with the project or access its resources, contact Discover Digital at dhcscot@alliance-scotland.org.uk or 0141 404 0231.  

Explore the Discover Digital Guide, reports from grant schemes, Open University Course, and the SSSC Open Badge.  

Discover Digital continues to champion digital inclusion and equitable access to healthcare, fostering a healthier and more connected Scotland. 

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