WIREDGOV

Financial inclusion is often treated as a distinct issue, as though it can be addressed on its own, apart from the wider conditions that shape whether people can take part in everyday life. That no longer reflects how people actually live. For many, the path to a bank account, affordable credit, debt advice, benefits support, and day-to-day money management now begins online.

That changes the picture. It affects who can act quickly, who can make informed choices for themselves, and who can use services with confidence and independence.

This is why digital inclusion has to sit within the conversation in Scotland. When someone does not have a suitable laptop, tablet or phone, when their connection drops, or when online systems feel difficult to navigate, access to financial services becomes slower, more fragile, and sometimes out of reach altogether. What appears to be financial exclusion is often being reinforced by digital exclusion at the same time.

You see that most clearly when pressure is already high. Someone facing a financial crisis may need urgent support. Someone trying to avoid high-cost borrowing may need to compare options, check eligibility, or apply online. Someone dealing with debt may need access to clear, trusted advice that is increasingly delivered through digital channels. Without the means to get online safely and reliably, the effects do not stop at access. They spill into household finances, stability, and wellbeing when support is needed most.

The National Lottery Community Fund’s consultation is a welcome chance to recognise that more plainly. Any serious effort to improve financial inclusion should take full account of devices, connectivity, digital skills, and practical support to use services well. Otherwise, we risk building solutions around a system people are expected to use, while leaving too many without a fair way in.