Virgin Money seeks to tackle ‘digital poverty’ in Yorkshire via new partnership

Virgin Money has teamed up with digital inclusion charity Good Things Foundation to help tackle digital poverty in Yorkshire, by giving people access to free sim cards provided by the National Databank Programme in its Leeds, Rotherham and Sheffield stores.

The National Databank is “like a foodbank” but provides free mobile data, texts and calls for people in need. Virgin Money is the first bank in the UK to sign up to the programme and will distribute O2 sim cards that will be loaded with 20GB of free data every month for six months, from 16 stores across the country.

Users can request a voucher from a local community support organisation registered with the National Databank and take it to their nearest Virgin Money store delivering the programme.

Specially-trained hosts will work with users to register their sim cards, which provides enough data for around 220 hours of internet browsing per month, show them how to get online and offer tips on how to stay safe when browsing.

Other Virgin Money stores taking part in the programme include Aberdeen, Birmingham, Blackpool, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow Hillhead, Grimsby, Inverness, Kilmarnock, Manchester, Montrose, Newcastle and Peterborough.

Hugh Chater, chief commercial officer at Virgin Money, commented: “For many low or no-income households, paying for data is simply another bill that they can’t afford.

“Without it however, they are missing out on accessing essential money management and support services such as benefits calculators, online job boards and price comparison sites that can help to reduce their monthly outgoings.

“Through our new partnership with Good Things Foundation and Virgin Media O2, we are working to tackle this digital divide and taking one step closer to ending the poverty premium.”

Helen Milner OBE, group chief executive at Good Things Foundation, added: “Having enough data in our increasingly digital society is not a nice to have, it’s an absolute essential. If you’re not online you can’t save money on products and services, help your children participate in home-learning, or apply for jobs.

“There are 2 million households struggling to afford internet access in the UK today, and 10 million adults lack the most basic digital skills. Together, we can come together to help address the issue of data poverty in the UK once and for all.”

By Matthew Neville – Correspondent, Bdaily

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