Digital support refers to guidance on the use of electronic services, the internet and devices. Digital support can be provided by different actors, such as public authorities, companies and volunteers. Typically, digital support is provided, for example, at service points, libraries, and the premises of civic and labour institutes or other organisations. Digital support has a strong role in promoting well-being, health and inclusion: incompetence in digital skills is linked to an increased risk of exclusion.
Operators have different roles in providing digital support: public authorities have a legal obligation to provide guidance on how to use their own digital services, and libraries, adult education centres and voluntary digital tutors, for example, can provide general guidance on how to use devices and the internet.
The project created a network of digital support and well-being actors in the region
In Northern Ostrobothnia, digital support has been developed since 2018. The Northern Ostrobothnia Digital Support project has been part of the national digital support development package, which has been based on the Digitalisation Promotion Programme set up by the current government. One of the key objectives of the programme is to ensure that citizens have equal access to digital services and that digital support is available throughout Finland.
The Northern Ostrobothnia Digital Support project has supported the region's digital support actors to develop digital support and related communications. During the project, a strong network of digital support actors was also created in Northern Ostrobothnia, for which meetings, webinars and other activities supporting the development of digital support have been organised. An extensive round of municipalities was also carried out as part of the project, in which discussions were held with the municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia on the organisation of digital support and municipalities were encouraged to find solutions and operating models to increase the provision of digital support. In addition, the project has produced written material for digital support for operators in the region, including a handbook for digital support organisers.
The Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV) is responsible for the development of national digital support as of 2022, but the provision of digital support and regional development will continue under the responsibility of the regional actors.
Links made during the Northern Ostrobothnia Digital Support project and useful links related to digital support
Digitally Better Everyday Syyswebinar 15.10.2021
Digitally Better Everyday Syyswebinar recording
Digital Supporters Group on Facebook
