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A PILOT project by a housing association found tenants saved money and got jobs when they were given free internet access.

In Glasgow Housing Association’s pioneering scheme, 70 tenants in a tower block were given free wifi for two years.

One in 10 tenants found a job while a third were given interviews after answering online employment adverts. Others found they could save up to £200 by shopping around and reducing travel by doing tasks online.

The project was carried out at a high rise in Kirkton Avenue, in the city’s Knightswood area, and tenants were given access to a tablet or laptop.

The scheme transformed the life of Peter Bevan, 57, who landed a job after three years of unemployment.

About 95 per cent of jobs are now advertised online and Peter said he had found it impossible to apply for posts on the internet because he could only get an hour of wifi access per day at the library.

But the free broadband helped him pass his bus driving test and he has since been employed as a coach driver.

Peter, who now drives for McGill’s Buses, said: “I used the internet to study for the theory test. It was a godsend. Without the free internet, it would have very difficult. I also used it every day to look for work. It makes such a difference to use the internet at any time.

“It’s difficult to afford a computer if you’re on benefits. Everything is online these days and benefit claims will soon be online, too.”

Peter said he had felt left behind by the computer age and found that training on using the internet was invaluable.

He said: “At my age, there aren’t many opportunities. Without that internet access, I wouldn’t have found a job.

“I felt I was in a state of limbo but this scheme has changed everything. You can search all day and night for a job if you have this kind of access to a computer.”

Now that he is a qualified bus driver, he has gone from feeling worthless to being a valuable asset to an employer.

He said: “With bus work, it’s a driver’s market because there is such a shortage of people with

the skills.

“I now feel I have a future with opportunities at my fingertips. I also have my self-respect back as I’m earning and contributing to society again.”

Peter was previously receiving housing benefit but is now paying his full rent and tax.

He said: “This should be done in all council homes – especially in areas of high unemployment. It helps people get off the dole and into work again.”

The scheme is part of a campaign to encourage more tenants to register for online services.

GHA’s online services allows tenants to pay their rent, check their account and balance, book a repair appointment and get expert advice on welfare changes.

Evelyn McDowall, of GHA’s parent organisation Wheatley Group, said: “As the cost of living continues to rise, every penny counts. It’s important to find the best value for money when it comes to bills and utilities, and affordable internet access is crucial to the process.

“Our project has shown that getting online can help people feel in charge of their finances – whether that is choosing when to pay a bill or using price comparison sites to shop around for the best energy tariff or broadband deal.

“We want to give our tenants access to the best opportunities so we’re working on finding affordable connectivity options while providing help and guidance on how get the most

out of using the internet.”

GHA, who have almost 40,000 affordable homes in Glasgow, said that after only eight months of the programme participants reported an average saving of £187 during the period. A quarter said they saved money through greater choice online using tools such as price comparison websites.

And more than a quarter said they saved on phone bills as well as travelling costs to and from the shops. Eight out of 10 tenants said it had helped with studies, household duties, applications to college and looking for homes.

At the start of the study, a fifth of households didn’t use internet or email. But by the scheme’s end, all the participants were using the internet and email on a regular basis.