Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub donate 20,000 used devices to those in need

Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub have appealed to Britons to donate around 15 million unwanted smartphones to those in need, after revealing their Community Calling programme has already donated 20,000 devices to victims of domestic abuse, refugees and disadvantaged communities.

The circular economy initiative, which was founded in 2020 during the pandemic to provide smartphones to people who could not afford mobile devices or connectivity, has partnered with Women’s Aid, Crisis, Migrant Help and Supporting Children with Diabetes to deliver refurbished devices powered by free O2 mobile data from the National Database.

Britons can send their unwanted working smartphones for free to Community Calling, where accredited technology partner, Genuine Solutions, will wipe the data from the device before it is handed over.

The initiative is part of Virgin Media O2’s wider sustainability strategy, the Better Connections Plan, which aims to encourage consumers to take 10 million ‘circular actions’ to help tackle electronic waste.

Alex Robinson, CEO of Hubbub, said that four years after Covid-19 hit, digital exclusion remains a serious issue for hundreds of thousands of people across the UK. “That’s why we’re excited to celebrate the milestone of donating 20,000 used devices and free data through Community Calling,” he said. “We’ve made it easier and simpler to donate devices to Community Calling to encourage even more businesses and individuals to donate their old devices to support those affected by digital exclusion.”

The update was accompanied by new research which found that Britons are more likely to sit in a tub of baked beans or remain silent for 24 hours to raise money for charity than to give away unused smartphones.

The survey found that 62% of people donate to charity because they want to feel good about helping others, while almost half will donate an item to a good cause if they know it will have a positive impact. But 44 per cent of Britons think charities don’t accept smartphones

“We know people in the UK want to do more to help communities in need. With millions of unused phones sitting in drawers and garages, they have the opportunity to make a difference by donating their devices to Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub’s Community Calling programme,” said Dana Haidan, Director of Sustainability at Virgin Media O2.

“The quick and easy act of handing over a phone will help people in need access the internet and basic services, such as making a medical appointment, applying for a job or training, or staying in touch with loved ones.”

The update comes after Virgin Media O2 recently expanded its O2 Recycle programme to include PlayStation, Xbox, Oculus and Nintendo consoles, in the hope of encouraging gamers to recycle the estimated 18 million old consoles lying around in cupboards and drawers across the UK.

Earlier this year, MPs have accused the government of failing to fully understand the scale of the UK’s e-waste problem, which they say threatens the country’s environmental goals. Meanwhile, separate research by Material Focus found that Britons collect 880 million unused electrical items and throw away 103,000 tonnes of e-waste a year.

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