Vodafone - charities.connected
If you are a charity that needs some support for digital inclusion programmes, you can apply to Vodafone's charities.connected, which is part of their everyone.connected campaign that aims to help people and businesses cross the digital divide.
Charities can apply to charities.connected to receive free Vodafone SIM cards that are loaded with 40GB of data a month for 6 months, plus unlimited calls and texts. Charities can use these SIM cards however they would like - for example, to provide connectivity to the people that your charity supports, or to hold drop-in sessions at your venue.
It is important to note that Vodafone distributes SIM cards through charities and cannot distribute SIMs to individuals.
If you are an individual seeking support with mobile data, you can view our #CovConnects map to see the venue closest to you that distributes National Databank [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/cov-connects/connectivity-devices/3] SIM cards.
Find out more about Vodafone's charities.connected by visiting their website. [https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/everyone-connected/charities-connected]
Apply to become a Sky Up Digital Hub
#CovConnects are working with the Sky Up programme to help up to 10 community venues get access to free Wi-Fi.
The Sky Up programme is all about creating opportunities in a digital world so everyone can be better equipped and have a better future. Through the programme, community venues can apply to seek Broadband & Tech by becoming a Sky Up Digital Hub.
By becoming a Sky Up Digital Hub, venues will receive 3 years’ worth of free Sky broadband and tech devices that can support digital upskilling . They will also be able to access digital devices and wider skills supports through the Council’s #CovConnects initiative.
The Sky Up programme focusses on two age groups and applicants will need to showcase how their work will reach these audiences. The two age groups are the under 25s and the over 65s.
Sky Up have reached their Digital Hub quota for 2023. If you are interested in registering a Hub, please look out for updates either on this page or on the Sky Up website. [https://www.skyup.sky/digital-hubs]
National Digital Inclusion Network
Good Things Foundation, one of the leading digital inclusion charities in the UK, have a network of nearly 4,000 hardworking organisations throughout the country, this network is known as the National Digital Inclusion Network.
Members of the National Digital Inclusion Network provide safe spaces for digitally excluded people to access free help. They offer digital inclusion support such as free mobile data through the National Databank, or offer digital skills support through the Learn My Way platform.
No matter where you are in the UK, or what your organisation does. If you want to deliver free digital inclusion support, you can join the National Digital Inclusion Network.
Why join the National Digital Inclusion Network?
Members of the National Digital Inclusion Network can access:
- The National Databank - like a food bank but for mobile data - receive a supply of free mobile SIM cards to gift to people who need internet connectivity
- Learn My Way - free online learning platform packed with bite-sized topics on essential digital skills. Your organisation can use Learn My Way to support people to improve their digital skills for free by joining the National Digital Inclusion Network
- Digital inclusion grants and funding - Good Things Foundation's 'Fix The Digital Divide' fund is exclusive for members of the National Digital Inclusion Network. A range of grants are available depending on your organisations experience in delivering digital inclusion support.
Learn more about the benefits of becoming a member of Good Things Foundation's National Digital Inclusion Network. [https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org/network/about/]
Joining the National Digital Inclusion Network
Organisations interested in joining the National Digital Inclusion Network can find out more on how to register by visiting this page of Good Things Foundation's website. [https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org/network/join/]
New grant aid opportunity for Voluntary and Community Sector organisations to create digital hubs
Coventry City Council's Skills, Employment and Adult Education Service announced a new grant aid opportunity, the Voluntary Sector Community Space Improvements Scheme.
The Scheme will support organisations to deliver new Capital projects to improve community facilities with a focus on provision of IT facilities and digital connectivity for the purpose of skills and employability support. This will be through improving existing and/or developing new IT facilities and digital connectivity for skills and employability support which targets economically inactive residents, which can include people not currently engaged in education, training or work or becoming disengaged. The grant aid will be available as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) provision in Coventry for 2024/25.
Part of the delivery of the scheme will be to work collaboratively with #CovConnects, the Council's digital inclusion initiative around reducing digital inequalities.
Deadline for applications is 10 May 2024.
To apply, visit the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Joint E-Tendering System (CSW - JETS) [https://in-tendhost.co.uk/csw-jets/aspx/Home].
Further information on doing business with Coventry City Council [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/business-council].
If you are interested in learning more about the Voluntary Sector Community Space Improvements Scheme, please contact: covconnectsdigital@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:covconnectsdigital@coventry.gov.uk].