Lead: Queen’s University Belfast (QUB)
Supported by Demonstrator Site Teams: Start 360, North East Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force, Alcohol Forum Ireland, Developing Healthy Communities NI

The demonstrator sites will collaborate closely with individuals, staff, and partner organisations to strengthen leadership, enhance workforce capability, and promote digital innovation in health and wellbeing services.

Key activities include:

• Digital Upskilling and Trauma Informed Practice (TIP) Training: Comprehensive training programmes will build staff capacity in digital skills and trauma-informed approaches, supporting more effective, inclusive, and compassionate service delivery.
• Knowledge Exchange and Collaboration: The SUMIT Community of Practice will connect demonstrator sites to share best practice, address challenges, and showcase innovative approaches to integrating digital tools within existing services.
• Co-Design, Implementation, and Evaluation: Robust governance and operational frameworks will support the co-design, implementation, and evaluation of digital solutions tailored to local needs.
• Service User Engagement: A dedicated Service User Advisory Panel will ensure lived experience informs the design, delivery, and communication of the SUMIT project, promoting meaningful involvement and user-centred innovation.

Through this integrated approach, the demonstrator sites will advance digital transformation in health and wellbeing, enhance service effectiveness, and reduce pressures on frontline staff.

Lead: Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI)
Supported by: University of St Andrews, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), NICVA, The Wheel and Dundalk Institute of Technology

The digital workstream focuses on designing, developing, and implementing digital tools that improve access to health, care, and wellbeing support for people affected by substance use and mental health challenges.

Everyday devices such as smartphones and tablets will play a key role, offering simple and accessible services—like text messaging—to support local interactions, check-ins, and follow-ups.

Using collaborative and participatory methods, we will take a design-led approach to understand real needs, uncover challenges, and turn insights into opportunities for meaningful change. This will help shape new digital products and services that truly meet the needs of users, staff, and communities.

Digital inclusion will be at the heart of this work—ensuring people have the right mix of technology, connectivity, skills, confidence, and motivation to access and benefit from digital services. Early in the project, at least three digital products will be designed and prepared for implementation.

Key Focus Areas

• Digital Design – Working with stakeholders to explore challenges and co-design solutions that meet both individual and organisational needs across health and care.
• Digital Inclusion – Ensuring that everyone, regardless of background or ability, has the access, confidence, and support to use digital tools effectively.
• Digital Implementation – Developing evidence-based strategies for introducing digital products into real-world test sites, supporting successful adoption and long-term sustainability.
• Digital Products – Using insights from co-design sessions with local partners to develop and test digital tools that are relevant, practical, and owned by the communities they serve.

Together, these efforts aim to build a digitally inclusive environment where innovative tools enhance wellbeing, improve service delivery, and empower individuals on their journey to better health.

Lead: Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
Supported by: Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), University of St Andrews, Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)

This activity will evaluate and inform the implementation of the SUMIT programme, helping to build a cross-border model for delivering digitally enhanced health and wellbeing services. The goal is to create services that support recovery, improve outcomes, and reduce pressure on both people using services and the staff delivering them.

Working closely with project partners—but maintaining an independent perspective—the research and evaluation team will assess the effectiveness of all stages of SUMIT implementation. Using a clear evaluation framework, the team will ensure that all work reflects SUMIT’s core values:

• Person-centred care
• Human rights and equality
• Inclusion and accessibility
• Quality and sustainability

The evaluation will draw on a range of proven research methods and tools to assess progress across planning, implementation, and impact phases. This will help identify what works, what needs improvement, and how digital solutions can best support long-term change.

The evaluation will focus on key questions such as:

• Is SUMIT designed and targeted effectively?
• Is it being delivered as planned?
• How effective and sustainable is it?
• What are the costs and benefits?
• Are there any unexpected outcomes or challenges?

The evaluation team will provide continuous feedback to partners and demonstrator sites, helping to refine and strengthen the programme as it develops.

The team will also monitor SUMIT’s contribution to equality, non-discrimination, and relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ultimately, this research will provide evidence to guide future digital health initiatives—ensuring that SUMIT delivers real, measurable benefits for individuals, services, and communities.