Virgin Media O2 becomes first strategic partner of Good Things Foundation with £2m donation to help fix the digital divide – for good
Virgin Media O2 is donating £2 million to Good Things Foundation to help disadvantaged people across the country get online, stay connected, and gain vital digital skills, as part of a new three year partnership.
Virgin Media O2 has become Good Things Foundation’s first strategic partner and will work closely with the charity to fix the digital divide – for good – helping people to access free connectivity, devices, and basic digital skills training. This includes people most affected by the current cost-of-living crisis.
The support – provided through a network of partners – will help people get online, stay connected, and gain vital digital skills so they can use the internet for life’s essentials.
The partnership builds on Virgin Media O2’s and Good Things Foundation’s pioneering National Databank initiative which launched in July 2021. The databank is like a foodbank but for free mobile data, texts, and calls. Virgin Media O2 is donating more than 61 million GB of free O2 data to the National Databank to help people most affected by the cost of living crisis to get online and stay connected.
This partnership will help Good Things Foundation to deliver their ambitious new strategy which aims to support a National Digital Inclusion Network of 5,000 digital inclusion hubs across the country, enabling one million people to access and benefit from the digital world through accessing the National Databank, the National Device Bank and essential skills resources, such as Learn My Way.
Nicola Green from Virgin Media O2 said:
“As part of our pledge to upgrade the UK, we’re proudly building on our partnership with Good Things Foundation to help connect a million people experiencing digital isolation, helping them to get online and learn vital skills so they can use the internet, access essential services, and stay connected to loved ones.
“Through our new sustainability strategy, the Better Connections Plan, we’re working to create a better, more connected country for everyone, and are providing data and devices to people most affected by the cost-of-living crisis so they can get online and stay connected.”
“We’re thrilled to announce that Virgin Media O2 has become a strategic partner to Good Things Foundation and will play a major role in helping us deliver our strategy. There are two million households that struggle to afford internet access in the UK today, and 10 million adults lack the most basic digital skills.
“By the end of 2025, we want to engage one million people, helping them benefit from the digital world, and support 5,000 Digital Inclusion Hubs across the nation to respond to local needs. In partnership with Virgin Media O2 and supported by this £2 million investment, we will expand our National Digital Inclusion Network to support the National Databank and National Device Bank, helping to fix the digital divide for good.”
Partner
Virgin Media O2