Good Things Foundation runs the National Databank in partnership with Digital Inclusion Hubs, which are organisations that support their communities to access the internet. Through the National Databank and participating Digital Inclusion Hubs, people can receive free SIM cards loaded with mobile data across the UK.
If you have already received a free SIM card from your local Digital Inclusion Hub, or would like to get one for the first time, this guidance may help you get started.
How to get a free SIM card
Please note that Good Things Foundation does not provide SIM cards directly to people.
You can visit a participating Digital Inclusion Hub to receive a free SIM card. Use our map to find a Digital Inclusion Hub near you.
To be eligible for a free SIM card, you must be:
- 18+ years old AND from a low income household
- AND/OR have no access or insufficient access to the internet at home
- AND/OR have no or insufficient access to the internet when away from the home
- AND/OR cannot afford an existing monthly contract or top up
Depending on availability and your needs, you may receive a SIM card from O2, Vodafone or Three.
Using an O2 SIM card
If you receive an O2 SIM card, you will have 25GB of data with free calls and texts for up to 12 months.
Each month you will receive a voucher code by text from O2 that will allow you to top up. When you receive a voucher code, follow these instructions:
- Dial 4444
- Select option 1 to top up your phone
- Select option 2 to top up with a voucher and then wait for the advertisement to finish
- Enter the 16-digit voucher number you received in your text message
- Once the automated service confirms your top up, you can hang up
- You will receive a confirmation text that your top up was successful
If you want to keep your existing mobile number, you can port your number to your new O2 SIM card. Find out how to do this on the O2 website.
To get additional help with topping up your data, using your O2 SIM card or any other queries about using the internet, please speak to the Digital Inclusion Hub who gave you the SIM card.
If further support is needed, you can call O2 customer service on 0344 8090222 or 4445 from your O2 mobile and quote ‘National Databank’.
Using a Vodafone SIM card
If you receive a Vodafone SIM card, you will have 40GB of data, free calls and texts for 30 days, which refreshes automatically for 6 months.
These SIMs come preloaded, which means all you have to do is insert the SIM card into your phone and you will have access to mobile data straight away.
To get additional help with inserting or using your Vodafone SIM card or any other queries about using the internet, please speak to the Digital Inclusion Hub who gave you the SIM card.
Using a Three SIM card
If you receive a Three SIM card, you will have 24GB of data to use, with no additional top-ups or refreshes.
These SIMs come ‘preloaded’, which means all you have to do is insert the SIM card into your phone and you will have access to mobile data straight away.
To get additional help with inserting or using your Three SIM card or any other queries about using the internet, please speak to the Digital Inclusion Hub who gave you the SIM card.
Learn how to use the internet safely & confidently
Once your new SIM card has been set up, you can start using and exploring the internet!
If you’d like to learn more about using the internet, check out Learn My Way, our free website that has over 100 topics on different digital skills.
You can learn how to use the internet to manage your money, apply for jobs, use office programs and more.