The Connecting Stirling bid, which has been awarded £250,000, will allow a three year programme to provide tenants of Forth and Rural Stirling Housing Associations the chance to build confidence, capacity and resilience when using their computers to access on line services from the DWP and other agencies.

Working in conjunction with the Stirling Advice Partnership the Associations will employ two specialist trainers, who will work with people in their own homes and at local community venues. They will start with whatever computing knowledge people may have and over a six week period of tailored training will improve individual skill levels. This will not only assist people with online use of the benefits system but increase peoples capacity to seek employment, access goods and services and enjoy social media on line.

Speaking in response to the funding award Margaret Turner, chairperson of Forth Housing Association, said: “We are absolutely delighted about the Big Lottery award. This couldn’t have come at a better time for our tenants, as Universal Credit is being introduced in the Stirling area this month. Our Connecting Stirling initiative will allow us to improve people’s IT skills and prepare them for the online application processes being introduced.”

www.forthha.org.uk

Rural Stirling Housing Association