Environmental charity Hubbub and broadband provider Virgin Media O2 have announced the five charities that will receive a share of £400,000 to run a device lending scheme – providing tablets and data to people who are digitally excluded.
The five charities, set to receive grants between £55,000 and £83,000, are: Thames Reach, Kurdish and Middle Eastern Women’s Organisation, Willowacre Trust, Refuge, and Leeds Refugee Forum. These provide support to vulnerable groups, such as women seeking refuge from domestic violence, refugees, asylum seekers and people at risk of homelessness.
Hubbub says that the scheme will see more than 1,000 tablets provided to people living in temporary accommodation, who are often digitally excluded as a result. The tablets are powered by free O2 mobile data provided by the National Databank, set up by Virgin Media O2 and digital inclusion charity, Good Things Foundation.
The scheme aims to help people in need improve their digital skills, access essential services such as healthcare appointments, mental health support, training courses, apply for jobs, and take part in virtual interviews.
Amazon is also supporting the grant fund, providing an additional £100,000 to aid the running costs of lending hubs – where tech will be distributed.
Hubbub says that the tablets will be rehomed repeatedly, preventing technology from becoming e-waste and supporting the circular economy.
The winners of the grant
Homelessness charity Thames Reach provides emergency hostels, day services, supported housing and employment, training and education schemes across London. Using the new funding, the charity will now be able to provide 300 tablets and builds on their existing digital literacy skills programme.
Islington-based Kurdish and Middle Eastern Women’s Organisation (KMEWO) supports women and girls from black and minoritised communities who are survivors of domestic abuse. The charity offers general advice, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) advocacy, counselling, digital support, functional and employability skills training, and will receive more than 100 tablets through the scheme to help women access online support services such as welfare benefits, housing, health, education, and training services.
To help those who are at risk of homelessness develop skills, technology and support to get online, the Scotland-based charity Willowacre will receive 250 tablets. The charity works to reduce homelessness across the west of Scotland, providing services including digital support, money advice, youth services, and furniture/white goods upcycling.
Refuge, the nationwide charity supporting women and children seeking refuge from domestic abuse, including refugees and asylum seekers, and those at risk of homelessness, will receive 250 tablets to help women and children to access online services, education, training and entertainment. The charity established its own Tech Abuse and Empowerment programme in 2017 to increase safety, confidence, and digital knowledge amongst those they support.
Leeds-based charity Leeds Refugee Forum will receive 200 tablets to refugees across the city, building on their existing tech hub and digital literacy offering.
‘Having access to devices and data can be a lifeline’
Alex Robinson, CEO of Hubbub, said: “We are delighted to announce the recipients of the Tech Lending Community Fund. This unique community lending scheme has two key benefits: it allows people at their most vulnerable to access essential services and stay in touch with loved ones, and it also tackles e-waste by giving another life to unwanted tablets and diverting them from ending up in landfill or incineration.
“We look forward to supporting these wonderful charities with resources and guidance as they roll out their programmes, as well as witnessing the impact the tablets will have on the beneficiaries.”
Nicola Green from Virgin Media O2, added: “For people living in temporary accommodation and at risk of digital exclusion, having access to devices and data can be a lifeline.
“That’s why we’re proud to support these five worthy winners of the Tech Lending Community Fund to help them support vulnerable people so they can get online and access the services they need.
“This is just one of the ways Virgin Media O2 is working to connect one million digitally excluded people through free and affordable connectivity and services by 2025, as part of our new Better Connections Plan to help people to lead better, more connected, and greener lives.”
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