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Family Fund call on Scottish Government to do more for digitally excluded families

  • Area of Work: Digital
  • Type: News Item
  • Published: 7th July 2026
Family Fund, helping disabled children

Family Fund are calling for Scottish Government to take bold action to reduce digital exclusion amongst families with a disabled child.

The national charity recently published their Digitally Excluded research report. The report draws on survey responses from 660 families raising disabled or seriously ill children in lower income households across the UK. They found that nine in ten respondents (93%) are being digitally excluded or are at risk of exclusion.

Disabled children have greater needs in relation to digital, including technology for learning, communication and social connection. Having adequate digital kit, connectivity and confidence enable parent carers and young carers to access information and formal and informal support and have a greater say in matters of importance to them. 

Yet the majority of families responding to Family Fund’s research were not online at all due to financial or skills barriers. Even those who are online are not on securely. 37% of families were online but were dependent on someone else for access or were one bill or broken device away from being offline. 

Only 7% of families meet the criteria for digital inclusion. 

  • 82% said the cost and financial challenges are a barrier
  • 50% said digital skills are a barrier
  • 16% said they lack the devices or internet connection they need 
  • 85% face three or more barriers to getting online 

Families raising disabled children on a low income are being left behind and locked out of opportunities as they have fewer resources to meet their digital needs.  So they can equitably and safely access services, information and opportunities, digital access must be affordable, services must be inclusive and offline options must be available.

Next steps

Family Fund have made a number of recommendations for change in Scotland. Including the introduction of a duty on statutory services to ‘ask and act’ in relation to risk of digital exclusion amongst priority family groups. This is supported by the integration of the Good Things Foundation Indicator of Digital Inclusion into existing referral, assessment, and planning processes.

Salena Begley MBE, Family Fund’s Policy and Public Affairs Manager (Scotland) will be presenting the research findings and the charity’s recommendations at the August Digital Citizen Panel Conversation Café. 

You can download the report here.

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