The transfer will assist hundreds of individuals entry important on-line providers and keep linked.
O2 to provide away 12,000 free cellphones ‘to individuals who want them’ (Picture: Getty)
Virgin Media O2 has pledged to donate 12,000 cellphones to individuals who want them, doubling down on its initiative to deal with digital exclusion. Following on from its dedication final 12 months, which additionally offered round 12,000 refurbished telephones to these experiencing monetary hardship, this 12 months the operator will once more donate gadgets via its Group Calling programme, in partnership with environmental charity Hubbub, to assist folks in want get on-line.
The initiative will rehome telephones via a nationwide community of charity companions and group teams, together with The Multibank, which Virgin Media O2 started supporting final 12 months. Nicola Inexperienced, chief communications and company affairs officer at Virgin Media O2, mentioned: “We all know getting access to a telephone is a lifeline for folks experiencing monetary hardship. That’s why Virgin Media O2 is proud to cleared the path in offering 12,000 free telephones this 12 months to those that want them to allow them to get on-line and keep linked to family members.”
The transfer will assist hundreds of individuals entry important on-line providers and keep linked. (Picture: Getty)
Ms Inexperienced added that the transfer builds on the supplier’s wider measures to “deal with digital exclusion”, resembling its Nationwide Databank, which supplies free O2 cellular information, Group Calling, which rehomes telephones to those that want them, and social tariffs for individuals who obtain advantages.
This initiative goals to assist the weak, resembling survivors of home abuse, these residing in non permanent lodging, households and households in want of connectivity or folks experiencing homelessness.
It means they’ll entry important on-line providers, resembling reserving medical appointments, discovering work, discovering a secure place to remain, or staying in contact with family members.
Virgin Media O2 sources telephones from buyer returns and its O2 Recycle service, which permits folks from any supplier to commerce of their outdated gadgets for money.
Emily Watson, strategic partnerships lead at Hubbub, mentioned: “Since 2020, we’ve been proud to work in partnership with Virgin Media O2 on Group Calling to assist help these which might be digitally excluded within the UK, while additionally tackling e-waste.
“Collectively, we’ve now donated greater than 30,000 telephones, supporting folks to remain linked to important providers, family members and alternatives that might in any other case be out of attain.”
Digital Inclusion and Telecoms Minister, Liz Lloyd, mentioned: “Gaining access to a tool could be a lifeline for these experiencing digital exclusion. That is why tackling entry to the web world is on the coronary heart of our Digital Inclusion Motion Plan.
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“I welcome Virgin Media O2’s dedication to placing hundreds of gadgets into the arms of people that want them most – that is precisely the type of partnership that can assist us break down limitations to alternative.”
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