Engage Update - 14 April

Opportunity to Access Donated Devices to Support Digital Inclusion in Renfrewshire

Thanks to a generous opportunity from Amazon, AbilityNet are pleased to offer an opportunity for Renfrewshire-based organisations to apply for the following digital devices to support individuals and communities facing digital exclusion:
 

• Alexa Dots (20 available)
• Amazon Echo Show 5’s (10 available)
• Amazon Fire Sticks. (20 available) 

This donation will directly support our shared digital inclusion aspirations across the area, enabling more people to get online, access services, and participate fully in society.
 
Devices will be allocated on a first come, first served basis to organisations working directly with individuals who would benefit from improved digital access. 
 
Organisations must be able to commit to and meet the following criteria:
 
The devices must be provided to individuals who fit the following criteria.

• has a disability or over the age of 18 living with a health condition/disability
• Digitally excluded: cannot afford access to an appropriate device . 

For your organisation to be eligible:

• You can identify individuals who do not have access to a suitable device. 
• You already support these people through your day-to-day activities. 
• You can take delivery of and store the devices at a secure and insured location. 
• You will not resell the devices at any point (and ensure that the end beneficiaries are also aware that re-sale is prohibited)
• You can distribute the devices to these individuals and cover this cost of the distribution.
• You agree to support the end users to maximise the impact of the devices with support from AbilityNet.
• To provide 1 case study in every 10 devices donated. We will provide the format for this. We can Anonymize names if required. 

To Apply
If your organisation would like to apply for devices, or if you would like further information, please contact Chris Grant, Community Relationship Team Lead (North UK) at AbilityNet by emailing chris.grant@abilitynet.org.uk

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Suicide Prevention Campaign and Website

On Wednesday 16 April 2025, Scotland's new national suicide prevention public awareness campaign will go live.

On the same day, Suicide Prevention Scotland's new website, SuicidePrevention.scot will also be launched. 

Campaign Background
The campaign is entirely co-produced by people with lived and living experience of suicide, professional and practice experience, and academic insight. It features the voices of four people with lived and living experience of suicide, each of whom share their own deeply personal experiences.  The main theme of the campaign is to normalise the idea of having a conversation about suicide and to give people the confidence to ask directly about suicide.

Rather than a fixed term campaign, next week is the start of a release of content that will continue over the long term.  However, some local and national support organisations and service providers may notice an increase in help seeking and presentations from the public as early as next week.

The campaign will be largely promoted through digital advertising, including YouTube, Meta ads (Facebook, Instagram and Meta’s ad network), and across various news / content websites with advertising networks.  There will also be a non-digital element involving roadside billboards (print and digital), adverts on buses, in train stations, on ferries, and with some local specific newspaper advertising in Orkney (where there are limited transport promotion opportunities and one of the participants lives). 

A launch session for the campaign will be held in the 16 April between 12 – 13:00 which you are welcome to attend. This will be held online and accessible through this teams link Join the meeting now

SuicidePrevention.scot

Suicide Prevention Scotland's new website will provide information and key links to a range of centralised resources to support people experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who are worried for someone else or for those who have been bereaved by suicide.

In the coming weeks, a further section for professionals will be launched as part of the next phase of the website’s development. 

As well as the webpage, Suicide Prevention Scotland will launch new social media channels on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, in addition to existing channels on X, YouTube, Medium, and Podbean. The website and social media channels are designed to increase visibility and action on suicide prevention and so may also lead to increases in help seeking/ presentations.

 

At this online event, on the 5th June, you will hear more about the 2025 SURF Awards process and the 5 Award categories.

If you have ever considered entering the Awards or want to know more about the process and what is involved or to hear directly from projects who have gone through the process, then this event is definitely for you.

Find out more and book - HERE