O2 stores will be offering free O2 data, texts and calls for up to a year to homeless people and those in povert who meet the qualifying criteria.
The scheme is the latest action of the National Databank which was created by Virgin Media O2 and digital inclusion charity, Good Things Foundation. Virgin Media O2 will be donating more than 61 million gigaabytes of O2 data to the initiative by the end of 2025.
Virgin Media O2 and Good Things Foundation and Hubbub have also expanded the giveaway to the Crisis and Change Please – Driving for Change charities
As well as offering free O2 data, texts and calls via the National Databank, both charities will provide free second-hand smartphones to their guests from the Community Callingn programme – run by Virgin Media O2 and environmental charity Hubbub.
The National Databank will also become available at more than 1,600 locations nationwide. Virgin Media O2 also increases the amount of free O2 data available to 25GB per month, equivalent to 275 hours of internet browsing.
To be eligible for free mobile data from the National Databank, the recipient must by over 18 years old from a low-income household. They must also meet one of several other qualifications such as no home internet access, no income to pay for internet access away from the home, cannot afford their existing monthly contract or top up
Crisis will offer the scheme via its nine Skylight Centres across Great Britain with all centres also being offered free WiFi from Virgin Media O2. Change Please will take the National Databank on the road via its Driving for Change buses which stop in deprived communities across London and provide hygiene and dental care.
Rob Orr, Chief Operations Officer at Virgin Media O2, said:
“To help people most affected by the cost-of-living crisis, we’re opening the doors to more National Databank Digital Inclusion Hubs than ever before and making it easier for people to get connected With O2 stores, Crisis’ Skylight Centres and Driving for Change’s buses becoming Databanks, and Virgin Media O2 boosting free O2 mobile data to 25GB per month, there are more places for people in need to get help so they can get online, access essential services, and keep in touch with loved ones this Christmas and beyond.”
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