The primary aim of the proposed project was digital inclusion and access to digital services/information for grass root South Asian communities.

The design and delivery of the project had a cultural–sensitive and person centred approach. The vision of the project was to facilitate digital inclusion and changed behaviour among people to get used to online health and health care services and information.

Increased accessibility to digital health and health care was facilitated through one to one support, upskilling and capacity building.

We sought to develop a digital inclusion learning programme to be delivered in groups for people to learn to access online health and care services and information that will help them to manage their health and health care.

To facilitate inclusion, we provided a learning programme in group settings to upskill participants’ digital skills.

One to one support was also offered to build capacity and confidence for people to access online services.

The inclusion programme included upskilling and educational sessions; what technology people can use and the services available online, and how they can make a choice of whether they use digital services or face to face.

Those participants who had already acquired basic skills were supported to make progression through enhanced skills.

The learning programme was mainly flexible to suit participants’ ability and convenience.

The support and learning was person-centred and choice-based according to the needs of each participant – the online services and care facilities they would seek to use that are relevant to their health needs.

The project was closely linked to the five principles of digital health; person-centred, inclusion, accessibility, data control and digital health where best suited, and used as a choice.

The primary aim of the short breaks programme was to help improve their overall well-being and to build robust relationship between carers and those cared for.

NKS sought to offer respite to female South Asian unpaid carers and activities to the cared for through three short day breaks and one residential break over twelve months. The breaks were offered according to the needs of the participants.

The aim of the Creative Breaks Project was to empower women to combat isolation and improve wellbeing through skill enhancing activities and via information about their rights leading to residential programme involving carers and cared for.

The activities delivered were three short day breaks and one weekend residential programme for carers and people they care for, along with outreach work to assess individual needs. During the short breaks and residential weekend, wellbeing, skill enhancing and bonding activities were provided.

The project seeks to build capacity and resilience among grassroots by intensively focusing on South Asian communities in Edinburgh, facing escalating socio-economic deprivation and health inequalities due to COVID-19, and support vulnerable individuals one to one via experienced bilingual community workers, known and trusted by communities; to empower and help identify recovery pathways leading to improved life chances. We also intend to promote eco-friendly lifestyle by providing conservation activities in the community to support net zero transition in the city with our over eight years’ experience in this area. In addition, a vision for a long-term legacy will be created by training a minimum of ten community equality champions in years two and three respectively.

The project work intends to address poverty, health inequalities and intersectional issues for families to improve wellbeing holistically. Hardships and inequalities experienced during COVID-19 and issues informed by our surveys (in 2020 & 2022) will be referred to; entailing enhancing and learning new skills, training community champions, building capacity, promoting healthier lifestyle and providing emotional support to families negatively impacted by the pandemic.

A baseline of needs and skills will be established via a survey study. To promote and contribute towards 20 minutes neighbourhood, isolated ethnic minority families will be connected with to access their local community services.

To empower people with information/knowledge, participation in training and courses will be encouraged and colleges will be liaised with along with sessional work offered to relevant facilitators. People experiencing stress and socioeconomic deprivation will receive tailored support entailing cultural/religious barriers within the family system, exclusion/racism, inaccessibility to local services, and isolation leading to traumatic experiences in life.