O2 to donate 12,000 smartphones to low-income families | Personal Finance | Finance

Virgin Media O2 has pledged to donate up to 12,000 smartphones in 2025 to help people in need get online.

The provider will donate around 1,000 pre-owned devices per month to its charity partners, Good Things Foundation and Hubbub. These organisations will distribute the refurbished and data-wiped tech to other UK charities and community organisations, which will then rehome the devices with those most in need.

Free O2 mobile data from Good Things Foundation and Virgin Media O2’s National Databank will also be available.

Nicola Green, chief communications and corporate affairs officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “We’re kick-starting 2025 with Virgin Media O2’s largest ever device donation programme that’ll help connect even more people in need this year.

“Our work with Good Things Foundation and Hubbub is getting devices into the hands of people who need it most, where they can access essential services like applying for work or carrying out online training, and ensures they can stay in touch with loved ones.

“We’re also helping to tackle e-waste by taking a ‘reuse-first’ approach, where unwanted devices will be put back into circulation and rehomed with someone who needs it.”

Virgin Media O2 is sourcing smartphones from customer returns and its O2 Recycle service.

O2 Recycle is open to all mobile users, regardless of their operator. Since its launch in 2009, it has recycled over four million devices and paid more than £350 million to consumers.

Last year, the initiative processed over 100,000 devices, preventing them from ending up in landfill by refurbishing and reselling them to customers or recycling them.

The initiative forms part of the provider’s wider sustainability strategy to connect one million digitally excluded people through free and affordable connectivity and services.

Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant, said: “This Government is committed to delivering the right tools and skills to individuals across the country to ensure no-one, no matter their age or background, is left behind in today’s digital age.

“I am thrilled to see Virgin Media O2 setting an example as to how we can come together as a country and reuse tech that would otherwise be collecting dust to help others.”

Helen Milner OBE, Group CEO at Good Things Foundation, said: “We’re proud to partner with Virgin Media O2 on this vital initiative to help tackle digital exclusion.

“This pledge to donate up to 12,000 refurbished smartphones across the year and to make free mobile data available through the National Databank means people most in need can access essential services, stay connected with loved ones, and gain the digital skills to thrive.”

People can find their nearest National Databank here.