Virgin Media O2 and environmental charity, Hubbub, are providing hundreds of tablets and smartphones to help people in need get online across the UK with a £400,000 device lending scheme.
Created in 2022, The Tech Lending Community scheme, is on a mission to tackle digital exclusion and electronic waste. They provide second hand tech to people who need it most! The kill two birds with one stone, they support the green initiative by preventing working tech ending up in land fills, and they help those who may not be able to benefit from devices to get online for basic needs! Its win-win all around!
As part of a new round of funding, homelessness charities, Centrepoint and Thames Reach will receive more than 500 tablets and smartphones, which will be powered by free O2 mobile data from the National Databank – which was set up by Virgin Media O2 and charity, Good Things Foundation.
Also, Refuge, a charitable organization dedicated to aiding women and children affected by domestic abuse, was granted 250 tablets through the initiative back in 2022. They’re set to receive ongoing funding and support to sustain their device lending program.
Backing the project is Reconome, responsible for procuring, sanitizing, and revamping the pre-loved devices.
This endeavor aligns with Virgin Media O2’s sustainability vision, the Better Connections Plan, serving as a pivotal step toward their ambition of linking one million digitally marginalized individuals with cost-effective connectivity and services by 2025.
