A MAJOR telecoms provider is giving away free data in all of its 240 stores in time for Christmas.
Virgin Media O2‘s databank for people struggling to get mobile data is expanding to more than 1,000 locations across the UK.
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The communications giant, which created the national databank with charity Good Things Foundation, said all 240 O2-owned stores would become hubs from December 7.
The scheme is being expanded to both Crisis and Change Please – Driving For Change homeless charities.
It means more than 1,600 locations across the UK will have access to the databank.
Those in need will be able to get free O2 data, texts, and calls regardless of their provider.
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It comes after a successful pilot of the national databank in 10 O2 stores last Christmas.
Virgin Media O2 also said it was boosting the amount of free data available too.
People who need it will now be able to get 25GB a month for six months, enough for around 275 hours of internet browsing a month.
This data can help people access key services, such as: finding a place to stay, locating food banks, accessing online medical help, and contacting loved ones.
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Essentially, the national databank works like a foodbank for data, offering connectivity to those who need it but struggle to access it.
Those eligible can get support by going to one of the participating stores and asking an O2 employee, who has been trained to use the National Databank’s platform, for a data voucher.
As well as offering the data, the two homeless charities will provide free second-hand smartphones to their guests via Virgin Media O2’s community calling scheme, which the firm runs with environmental charity, Hubbub.
Kieran O’Brien was homeless before he was supported by Driving for Change.
He explained why having access to mobile data is so important.
He said: “Often, I didn’t have credit and I’d receive messages from my family and I couldn’t send them a message back, which meant they’d worry about me.
“It would have made such a difference if I could have called my family and said ‘I love you’ or asked ‘how’s school?’.”
Kieran also added that if he’d had data, texts and calls, he would’ve gotten out of homelessness more quickly.
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.”
Do I qualify for the free data?
To be eligible for the data boost, you need to be at least 18 years old and must come from a low-income household.
You also have to qualify in one or several of the following statements:
- Has no access or insufficient access to the internet at home
- And/or has no or insufficient access to the internet when away from the home
- And/or cannot afford their existing monthly contract or top-up
How does it work?
Staff and volunteers at selected O2 stores or online centres in the Good Things Foundation’s network assess the needs of people they could support.
They then use the Data Bank to obtain SIMs and then share it.
So to access the free data you have to first receive support from an online centre.
You can find details of your nearest online centre on the website.
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The amount given out will vary. It will be decided based on your financial situation and how much data is available.
Support is also given to those who are struggling to use the internet, with tools on offer to help increase confidence and basic IT skills.
You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.
