Virgin Media O2 and environmental charity Hubbub are encouraging smartphone users to donate their old and unwanted mobile phones to those who need them most.
People can donate to Community Calling which is a scheme to get phones to people who need them, including victims of domestic abuse, refugees and disadvantaged communities.
This comes as new research from the two firms found that 44% of people wrongly believe charities do not accept smartphones.
Previous research by Virgin Media O2 estimated that there are as many as 15 million unwanted devices sitting unused in homes around the UK.
@uktoday_ Has your iPhone alarm not been working? Here's why #iphonealarm #apple #ios16 #uknews #uknewsheadlines ♬ original sound - UKToday 🇬🇧 Newsquest
What is Community Calling?
Established in 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Community Calling scheme was created to provide smartphones to those who could not afford devices or connectivity to get online.
It has donated 20,000 devices to people in need around the country.
Free mobile data will be provided by the National Databank which was set up by Virgin Media O2 and the Good Things Foundation.
To donate your smartphone, you can follow the instructions on the Hubbub website.
A number of reports have said that some people risk being cut off from society because they lack the tools needed to get online in an increasingly digital world.
Dana Haidan, chief sustainability officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “We know people in the UK want to do more to help communities in need, and with millions of unused phones stashed in drawers and garages, they’ve got the power to change lives by donating their devices to Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub’s Community Calling scheme.
“The quick and easy act of donating a phone will help people in need to get online and access essential services, like booking a medical appointment, applying for a job or taking part in training, or keeping in touch with loved ones.”
@uktoday_ Martin Lewis urged people to text ‘Info’ to 85075 to chexk if their phones were out of contract and save themselves some money #uknews #martinlewis #mobilephone #uknewsheadlines ♬ original sound - UKToday 🇬🇧 Newsquest
Recommended reading:
- Warning to mobile users as thousands of phones will no longer work this year
- How to set up your medical ID on iPhone and Android in case of an emergency
Hubbub chief executive Alex Robinson, said: “Four years after Covid-19 hit, digital exclusion remains a significant issue for hundreds of thousands of people in the UK.
“That’s why we’re thrilled to be celebrating the milestone of having committed 20,000 second-hand devices and free data through Community Calling.
“We’ve made donating a device to Community Calling easy and straightforward, to encourage even more businesses and individuals to pass on their old devices to support those facing digital exclusion.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here