The award nomination was given for the work done to help thousands of volunteer children’s panel members improve their digital skills through a digital confidence programme. The volunteers sit on over 35,000 children’s hearings each year across Scotland and the programme served to ensure panel members make the most of the digital tools available to them.

Children’s Hearings Scotland and its education provider, West Lothian College, were keen to provide consistent and accessible learning to volunteers. Aware of the varying levels of digital literacy amongst panel members, they recognised that some volunteers would need support to improve their understanding of technology. It was clear that the project would need to commission a high level of instructional and digital design provided by eCom Scotland.

Objectives of the project included extending the training through online learning to large numbers of people, giving volunteers the opportunity to learn at their own pace, at a time and place that suits them, and ensuring cost effective delivery.

Tom Birrell, Manager of the Children’s Hearings Scotland Learning Academy based at West Lothian College, said: “We are delighted that the work to upskill the children’s panel community has been recognised as we develop an increasing range of digital tools to support them in the important work of supporting Scotland’s most vulnerable children.”

Wendy Edie, Managing Director, eCom Scotland said: “We’re delighted to have been shortlisted for this award. It’s great recognition that our learning technologies play a key role in helping Children’s Hearings Scotland deliver on their strategic objectives.”

The awards, now in their eleventh year, will be held on 23 October and focus on the advancement of digital via e-commerce, charity/social enterprise, business, education, social media and much more.