Connecting Stirling has been awarded £250,000 over three years by the Big Lottery fund, to provide training for tenants of Forth and Rural Stirling Housing Associations.

Working with Stirling Council two specialist trainers will deliver six-week training programmes for tenants at home and in community venues, aiming to build their confidence and ability when it comes to accessing services online with agencies such as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Tailoring training to take account of existing ability levels the programme will also aim to boost tenants’ capacity to seek employment and access goods and services online, as well as to enjoy social media.

Stirling Council’s community planning and regeneration committee convenor, Councillor Corrie McChord, said: “If citizens are excluded from online access then this is likely to widen existing inequalities and we are determined to address this.

“The funds from the Big Lottery will be directed to address such inequalities. The project is great news for Stirling and shows what strong partnership working can achieve.”

Chair of Forth Housing Association, Margaret Turner, added: “We are absolutely delighted about the Big Lottery award.

“This couldn’t have come at a better time for our tenants, as Universal Credit has recently been introduced in the Stirling area. Our Connecting Stirling initiative will allow us to improve people’s IT skills and help them with the online application processes.”

The project will be up and running by the end of the year.

@StirlingCouncil