Digital Literacy Project (using basic English literacy development to improve digital inclusion for those at risk of drug related harm in the homeless population) (360G-SCVO-a13N2000002dLcyIAE)

Our project addresses the problem of very low English literacy in the homeless population (50%+) using digital devices and software to also improve their digital inclusion and digital literacy skills. Without such basic reading and writing skills, digital inclusion and digital literacy is not possible for a very large part of this group. Improving both basic literacy and digital skills for this group has been widely acknowledged as building confidence, improving employability, providing skills necessary to be able to interact in work and their personal life (which can have a knock-on effect in ending feelings of social exclusion), and ability to access services and remain connected to their network of support. These benefits all play a key role in supporting harm reduction. The project will be delivered in The Marie Trust ICafe, with 10 iPad stations. We use food as a means of engagement providing a healthy living café which has recently been adapted to an ICafe to widen access to digital skills and accessibility with over 60 people each day accessing the café, widening access to crisis intervention and wider Marie Trust Services. We will do this by employing a full-time Digital Literacy Worker, who will be working with the Citizen Literacy CIC non-profit company that specialise in adult literacy education, they are based and registered in Scotland (Company number SC671958) https://citizenliteracy.com/ and implementing the digital literacy program, working one to one to engage with people in the café who present or have been identified by the wider team or observed to be at risk of drug-related harm to develop literacy skills through the app to improve digital access.Citizen Literacy has created an adult literacy development program and tutor training resources supported by a revolutionary web app that also improves digital literacy and confidence amongst low literacy learners – see https://citizenliteracy.com/learner-app/. The work of the company in the field of adult literacy has been recognised by UNESCO who are currently adding a case study of their work to the UNESCO Institution of Lifelong Learning.The app is specifically designed for low / no literacy learners. It is free to use, does not require user registration, has no adverts, no in-app purchases, and takes no personal information. Featuring a voice-driven interface suitable for low literacy learners with two virtual teachers that provide instruction and instant personalised feedback. It keeps track of each learner’s progress anonymously to provide feedback. Importantly, the design avoids looking like a children’s learning resource – a strongly demotivating factor for adult learners. There is multimedia interactivity and gameplay, together with voice and handwriting recognition. Enabling some of the first online independent learning opportunities for low literacy learners. From a standing start, by the end of lesson 2, learners are beginning to read and write simple sentences. The app can be accessed directly at this web link: https://citizenliteracy.com/app/ As well as the app, the Citizen Literacy company will supply training and a printed tutor handbook to our digital literacy worker and printed learning resources to use with our learners.We expect this program will be challenging but extremely worthwhile for the people who we are targeting. We know the first level of engagement and introducing the service in the first month will involve the digital worker simply being there in the cafe, visible and engaging with people to use the IPads and get online, building conversations around how people use the internet, what they need help with and introducing literacy and the service into conversations, treading carefully, offering one to one support and ‘keeping the door open’ if people do not turn up for appointments or drop in sessions, and supporting people to develop their skills and confidence, not making judgement on their addiction. The digital literacy worker will work alongside the intervention and volunteer teams who are based in the café, both of whom will refer into the service and act as an introduction to the service to people they are working with who present for housing and welfare support. They will be supported by the Education Curriculum Manager to help implement the program and oversee monitoring and evaluation. Our wider team and the Hospital Outreach Worker will introduce literacy as part of their assessment when working with people who are at risk of drug-related harm to start planting the seed of opportunity. Our approach is that the more the teams and volunteers are aware, the word can spread if everyone is onside and conversations can be more organic. The service sees high levels of people presenting in emotional distress, under the influence, not prioritizing their own needs and health because of addiction and co-dependent relationships. This project will support a drug-related harm approach whilst raising awareness of IEP service available at The Marie Trust, naloxone, and drug-related harm online training via SDF to educate and reduce the effects of drug-related harm to themselves and others. We estimate that 4-6 months of engagement would be ideal for literacy, using the app with support. and taking into consideration that people will have different levels of literacy and be at different stages of engagement.