Words by Smiley Team
Partnering with children’s charity Barnado’s, Vodafone is supporting a public appeal to donate unused phones or tablets. The charity will distribute all devices to young people so they can access online learning and mental health support.
The company’s Great British Tech Appeal follows a successful call out for donations in summer 2020, through which Barnardo’s distributed devices to almost 2,500 people across the UK.
Fifteen-year-old Aaron, a Barnardo’s Young Carer who looks after his mother, received a smartphone via the Great British Tech Appeal in July last year. He said: “Having the phone has helped so much. I can keep in touch with Mum when she is in hospital and I feel less alone as I can easily talk to friends and family. I can even access school work on it and complete homework that is overdue.”
As one of those driving the collaboration from Vodafone’s side, their general counsel and external affairs director, Helen Lamprell, said: “When we heard about the rising number of people waiting for devices via Barnardo’s, we wanted to help. We know many people and businesses have already donated – or are using spare devices at home for remote learning – but we hope there might be some smartphones or tablets sitting unused, especially after Christmas. If you can help us by donating your device, we will make sure – with Barnardo’s – that it gets to those most in need.”
Barnado’s and Vodafone are hoping to ramp up their efforts and reach even more children in need. The charity estimates that there remain about 700,000 children and young people across the UK who do not have adequate access to a computer or the internet at home.
To donate either a tablet or a phone to the appeal, complete a short online form and you will receive a pre-paid postal box and envelope. You can send the device from any post box or post office.
They recommend that before returning your device, you reset the device to its default factory settings and disable any ‘find my device’ security settings; if this is not disabled, they won’t be able to process or donate your device. You should also remove any SIM or memory cards before sending.
To support deprived children across the UK who are struggling to get connected, network providers are increasingly offering their services for free. Following EE’s campaign to offer free internet to poorer families, Vodafone announced it would provide unlimited data as part of the Department for Education’s Get Help with Technology programme.
Smiley’s soon-to-be-released talk on digital inclusion features a range of speakers from educational and community activist backgrounds. They discuss how network providers can do their bit to support children and teachers while they are so dependent on digital technology.
Speaking at the event, Reverend Polly Kersys-Hull, a priest in a Church of England in a community in Leytonstone, East London, said: “We’re beginning to see some change from companies like EE but we need to hold those other big agencies accountable. As communities, we have the power to work together in raising our voices to get united.”
Keep an eye on Smiley Movement’s platforms for their digital inclusion event, to be released as a free video series this week.
