Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy Elena Whitham visited a local project yesterday (21 November 2023) to meet people benefiting from the Scottish Government’s £3.1 million Digital Lifelines Programme.

The programme, launched in 2021, has supported over 1,500 people to date in gaining access to digital devices and services.  Digital Lifelines supports people at risk from drug-related harm to connect with those who care about them and get access to the support they need.

Digital Lifelines Scotland is an important component of the national drugs mission with digital connections and new innovation playing an important role in supporting access to, and development of, services. The programme has recently been extended for a further 2 years to 2025.

Ms Whitham visited project delivery partner Recovery Enterprises Scotland based in HMP Kilmarnock to meet people from across Scotland’s prison estate and hear about how the Programme has supported them and had a positive impact on their lives. Also present were lead partners DHI, the Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre, and local MSPs and MPs.

Pictured with Ms Whitham (centre) are Carrie Thomson from DHI, Lorna Dalziel from Recovery Enterprises Scotland, and representatives from HMP Kilmarnock Prison.