# Digital Xtra Fund becomes Scotland’s first dedicated digital skills charity for young people

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/04/03/digital-xtra-fund-becomes-scotlands-first-dedicated-digital-skills-charity-young-people/
- Published: 2017-04-03T09:15:15+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Scotland’s Digital Xtra Fund has become the country’s first charity dedicated 
to supporting digital skills initiatives for young people aged 16 and under.**

 

The [Digital Xtra Fund](http://www.digitalxtrafund.scot), which works to [encourage under 16s in Scotland to develop their digital skills](https://blog.curriculosolutions.com/job-related-skills-how-to-ace-that-job-application)
through extracurricular activities, has so far distributed £400,000 to organisations
delivering extracurricular activities and has an expected reach of 15,000 young 
people, across every local authority area in Scotland.

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Last month, it received official charitable status from Scottish charity regulator,
OSCR, announced by Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science,
Shirley-Anne Somerville, at [Tackling the Technology Gender Gap Together 2017](http://www.scotlandis.com/events/2017/march/tackling-the-technology-gender-gap-together/).

 

A key objective of the charity is to promote gender balance by encouraging more 
girls to engage in digital and consider STEM subjects while in school. Objectives
also include building stronger links between young people and Scotland’s tech industry,
promoting the range of pathways into the tech sector, and targeting underrepresented
groups.

 

It is asking Scotland’s tech industry for donations, sponsorships and offers of 
in kind support to help it deliver its objectives, with BT Scotland and [Be Positive](https://www.be-positive.co.uk/)
two of the first industry contributors.

 

Funding for Digital Xtra Fund is provided by partners of the Digital Scotland Business
Excellence Partnership, which include the Scottish Government, [Skills Development Scotland](https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/),
[Scottish Enterprise](https://www.scottish-enterprise.com/), Highlands and Islands
Enterprise, [Scottish Funding Council](http://www.sfc.ac.uk/), Education Scotland,
ScotlandIS, and industry representatives.

 

Minister Somerville said:

 

> “The Digital Xtra Fund highlights the Scottish Government’s determination to close
> the digital skills gap faced by all sectors across the economy but also brings
> together a range of exciting digital opportunities for young people in one easily
> accessible place and does so in a new and innovative way. Investment in the digital
> skills of our young people is crucial to Scotland’s future.”

 

Image: project currently funded by Digital Xtra Fund

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