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id="meganav"></div> <section class="breadcrumb"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="dotdotdot-breadcrumb dotdotdot col-12" role="navigation"> <span><span><a href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/">News Centre Home</a></span> <span class="sep"><i class="chevron-right"></i></span> <span><a href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/press-release/">Press Release</a></span></span> </div> </div> </div></section> <div class="content "> <main class="main"> <div class="wrapper category-press-release mb-5"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-lg-7 article"> <div class="author-line"> <a href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/press-release/"><span class="category first">Press Release</span></a> <span class="separator">|</span> <date class="date last">14 Oct 2024</date> </div> <h1> Tech on standby: over 200 million unused devices are languishing in British homes </h1> <div class="author-line author d-flex flex-wrap align-items-center justify-content-between"> <div> <a >By Press Office</a> </div> <div class="addthis_inline_share_toolbox"></div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-5 col-lg-4 offset-lg-1" style="margin-top: 15px;"> <form method="get" role="search" action="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/" class="search-filter overlay-search-filter"> <div class="super-holder d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <input type="text" autocomplete="off" autofocus id="text-filter" placeholder="Search News Centre"> <img class="image-search" src="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/themes/news/dist/images/icons/search-icon.svg" border="0" alt="Submit" /> <input type="hidden" id="category-filter" value="all"> <input type="hidden" name="s" value="1"> </div> </form> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-12 col-md-7"> <article class="single-article"> <div class="image-container"> <figure class="featured"> <picture><source srcset='https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/AdobeStock_362311372_old-electronics-drawer-768x512.jpg.webp 768w' media='(max-width: 1536px)' type='image/webp'/><source srcset='https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/AdobeStock_362311372_old-electronics-drawer-768x512.jpg 768w' media='(max-width: 1536px)'/><source srcset='https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/AdobeStock_362311372_old-electronics-drawer.jpg.webp 1536w' type='image/webp'/><source srcset='https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/AdobeStock_362311372_old-electronics-drawer.jpg 1536w' /><img src="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/AdobeStock_362311372_old-electronics-drawer.jpg" alt="Photo of old and vintage game consoles, qwerty cellphone, smartphone, feature phone and pda or personal digital assistant inside a drawer." title="Old and vintage electronics gadgets or devices inside a drawer" /></picture> </figure> </div> <div class="wp-caption featured-caption"> <div class="wp-caption-text"> CREDIT: Adobe Stock </div> </div> <div class="content"> <h2>Good Things Foundation and Vodafone are encouraging people to clear out their old tech for Get Online Week 2024 (14-20 October) and give it a second life as part of Vodafone’s everyone.connected campaign. </h2> <ul><li data-leveltext="●" data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"●","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Over 200 million unused devices are sitting idle in British homes, three per household, according to new research from Vodafone.<sup>1</sup></li><li data-leveltext="●" data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"●","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Almost a third of people (32%) keep old tech due to security concerns, while nearly a fifth (17%) have a spare phone tucked away in case their current one breaks.</li><li data-leveltext="●" data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"●","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">More than one-in-10 (13%) don’t know how to recycle or donate their devices.</li><li data-leveltext="●" data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"●","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Meanwhile, 8.5 million people across the UK are on the wrong side of the digital divide, with 1.5 million lacking access to a device.<sup>2</sup></li><li data-leveltext="●" data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"●","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Vodafone and Good Things Foundation are encouraging people to clear out their old tech for <strong><a href="https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org/discover/get-online-week?utm_source=Vodafone&utm_medium=PR&utm_campaign=GOLW" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get Online Week 2024</a></strong> (14-20 October) and give it a second life as part of Vodafone’s <strong><a href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/everyone-connected" target="_blank" rel="noopener">everyone.connected</a></strong> campaign.</li><li data-leveltext="●" data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"●","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Vodafone, in collaboration with Good Things Foundation, will also be helping tens of thousands of people get online at <strong><a href="https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org/discover/get-online-week/events-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener">free digital skills events</a></strong> across the UK during Get Online Week.</li></ul><p><span data-contrast="auto">There are more than 200 million old and unused devices gathering dust in British households that could be recycled or refurbished and rehomed, according to new research released by Vodafone.</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">The study, conducted to encourage device donations during </span>Get Online Week 2024<span data-contrast="auto"> (14-20 October), revealed that the average Brit has at least two old phones stashed away at home, with more than one-in-ten (13%) hoarding up to five unused devices, including laptops (52%), tablets (37%) and even TVs (18%).</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">In fact, roughly a quarter (26%) stated they’ve had devices sitting idle in drawers for up to five years, with baby boomers among those most likely to keep hold of their old tech for longer.</span><sup>3</sup></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">The reasons for stockpiling old tech were as varied as the apps that once ran on them. Over a third (36%) of those surveyed admitted they had simply ‘forgotten’ about old devices, while 17%</span> <span data-contrast="auto">squirrelled away a phone in case their current one was to break. And a fifth (19%) kept their cupboards cluttered with unused tech for sentimental reasons, like accessing old photos and videos.</span></p> <section class="single-block vodafone-banner-advert mt-4 mb-4" style=background-image:url(https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2023/06/erasing-phone-contents-Adobe_Stock-1920x1280.jpg);> <span class="overlay"></span> <div class="content"> <div class="row d-flex justify-content-between justify-items-between"> <div class="col-sm-11 col-md-10 col-lg-8"> <h2>How to factory reset and donate your old smartphone</h2> <div class="mt-4">If you're worried about how to erase data and reset your old phone before donating it to the Great British Tech Appeal, use our handy guide for peace of mind and help digitally excluded people. </div> </div> <div class="col-12 mt-5 mb-2"> <a class="btn" href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/everyone-connected/how-to-factory-reset-and-donate-your-old-smartphone/">Find out more</a> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="single-block embed-block mt-4 mb-4 w-100"> <p><span class="TextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">The data</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0"> also</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0"> revealed that</span> <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">people</span> <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">were </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">unsure </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">what to do </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">with </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">the</span> <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">devices</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0"> they had </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">stashed.</span> <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">Worries about security (32%) and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">others </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">accessing their <strong><a href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/everyone-connected/how-to-factory-reset-and-donate-your-old-smartphone/">old content</a></strong> (21%) put</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0"> people</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0"> off recycling or donating a phone – despite more than seven</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">–</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">in</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">–</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">10 (78%) </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">saying</span> <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">they’d</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0"> like to put their old tech to better use.</span> <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">M</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">ore than one</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">–</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">in</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">–</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">10 (13%)</span> <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">sta</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">ed</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0"> they </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">d</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">idn</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0"> know how to give </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">their </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">device a second life</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">, with</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0"> 14%</span> <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">of people </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">think</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">ing</span> <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">it</span> <span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">would</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">n’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0"> be useful to somebody else</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW169403274 BCX0">.</span></span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">Vodafone’s research aims to encourage people to dig out their old devices and donate them to </span><strong><a href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/help-and-information/tech-appeal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Great British Tech Appeal</a></strong><span data-contrast="auto">, giving them a new lease of life and helping connect someone who doesn’t have access to a device. The Great British Tech Appeal is part of Vodafone’s everyone.connected campaign, which has pledged to help 4 million people and businesses cross the digital divide by the end of 2025, through the donation of connectivity, devices and skills.</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">Donated devices are wiped, refurbished, reboxed and paired with free data, calls and texts for six months. Vodafone’s charity partners, including Good Things Foundation and Barnardo’s, ensure the devices are then given to those who need them most.</span></p> </section> <section class="single-block vodafone-banner-advert mt-4 mb-4" style=background-image:url(https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2021/02/shutterstock_1816781843-scaled-e1612167049194-1920x1282.jpg);> <span class="overlay"></span> <div class="content"> <div class="row d-flex justify-content-between justify-items-between"> <div class="col-sm-11 col-md-10 col-lg-8"> <h2>Great British Tech Appeal: ‘Loneliness was the worst feeling'</h2> <div class="mt-4">Vodafone UK’s Great British Tech Appeal, run with charity partners Barnardo’s, SafeLives and the British Red Cross, distributes refurbished smartphones and tablets to disadvantaged people who lack connectivity. But what impact does it really have on someone's life?</div> </div> <div class="col-12 mt-5 mb-2"> <a class="btn" href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/features/great-british-tech-appeal-loneliness-was-the-worst-feeling-being-disconnected/">Find out more</a> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="single-block embed-block mt-4 mb-4 w-100"> <p><strong>Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer, Vodafone UK, said:</strong><span data-contrast="auto"> “The wonderful thing about the Great British Tech Appeal is that, as well as helping to tackle digital exclusion by providing devices to those who need them most, it also gives people a sustainable way to clear out their old tech. That’s because every donated device gets a second life or is responsibly recycled, thanks to our amazing partners like Good Things Foundation.</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">“While our data suggests that many would love to donate their devices, but either don’t know how or are worried about the security implications, it really couldn’t be simpler or safer. Either drop off your device at a local Vodafone store or visit our Great British Tech Appeal website to find how else you can get involved this Get Online Week and beyond.”</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">While the digital divide exists across the country, areas with large populations and high deprivation have the highest need for support. Data from Good Things Foundation shows cities including Wakefield, Brent and Nottingham are most impacted, with over 15,000 people currently thought to be offline in each area.</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">Lewisham, Walsall and Southampton follow closely behind. To show the scale of the issue and to mark Get Online Week, Vodafone has released a </span><b><span data-contrast="auto">map of the UK</span></b><span data-contrast="auto"> identifying the country’s most affected areas – so that people with spare devices in these areas can help get tech to those who need it most. </span></p> </section> <section class="single-block image-block mt-4 mb-4"> <figure class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img src="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/digital-divide-2024-map-great-british-tech-appeal-everyone-dot-connected-resized-1920x1174.jpg" srcset="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/digital-divide-2024-map-great-british-tech-appeal-everyone-dot-connected-resized-768x470.jpg 768w, https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/digital-divide-2024-map-great-british-tech-appeal-everyone-dot-connected-resized-1920x1174.jpg 1920w, https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/digital-divide-2024-map-great-british-tech-appeal-everyone-dot-connected-resized-550x336.jpg 550w, https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/digital-divide-2024-map-great-british-tech-appeal-everyone-dot-connected-resized-1536x939.jpg 1536w, https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/digital-divide-2024-map-great-british-tech-appeal-everyone-dot-connected-resized-224x137.jpg 224w, https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/digital-divide-2024-map-great-british-tech-appeal-everyone-dot-connected-resized-1824x1115.jpg 1824w, https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/digital-divide-2024-map-great-british-tech-appeal-everyone-dot-connected-resized.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" alt="" /> </figure> </section> <section class="single-block embed-block mt-4 mb-4 w-100"> <p><strong>The top 15 places estimated to have the most people digitally excluded: </strong></p><ol><li data-leveltext="%1." data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":0,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[65533,0],"469777803":"left","469777804":"%1.","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Wakefield – 17,690</span></li><li data-leveltext="%1." data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":0,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[65533,0],"469777803":"left","469777804":"%1.","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Brent – 16,946</span></li><li data-leveltext="%1." data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":0,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[65533,0],"469777803":"left","469777804":"%1.","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Nottingham – 15,978</span></li><li data-leveltext="%1." data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":0,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[65533,0],"469777803":"left","469777804":"%1.","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Lewisham – 14,991</span></li><li data-leveltext="%1." data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":0,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[65533,0],"469777803":"left","469777804":"%1.","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Walsall – 14,215</span></li><li data-leveltext="%1." data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":0,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[65533,0],"469777803":"left","469777804":"%1.","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Southampton – 12,363</span></li><li data-leveltext="%1." data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":0,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[65533,0],"469777803":"left","469777804":"%1.","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Rhondda Cynon Taf – 11,875</span></li><li data-leveltext="%1." data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":0,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[65533,0],"469777803":"left","469777804":"%1.","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Barking and Dagenham – 10,927</span></li><li data-leveltext="%1." data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":0,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[65533,0],"469777803":"left","469777804":"%1.","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Portsmouth – 10,341</span></li><li data-leveltext="%1." data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":0,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[65533,0],"469777803":"left","469777804":"%1.","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Basildon – 9,383</span></li><li data-leveltext="%1." data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":0,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[65533,0],"469777803":"left","469777804":"%1.","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">St. Helens – 9,170</span></li><li data-leveltext="%1." data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":0,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[65533,0],"469777803":"left","469777804":"%1.","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Derry City and Strabane – 7,542</span></li><li data-leveltext="%1." data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":0,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[65533,0],"469777803":"left","469777804":"%1.","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Dundee City – 7,386</span></li><li data-leveltext="%1." data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":0,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[65533,0],"469777803":"left","469777804":"%1.","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Blackpool – 7,048</span></li><li data-leveltext="%1." data-font="Oxygen" data-listid="6" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":0,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769242":[65533,0],"469777803":"left","469777804":"%1.","469777815":"multilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Torbay – 6,972</span></li></ol><p><span data-contrast="auto">Read more about </span><strong><a href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/help-and-information/tech-appeal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Great British Tech Appeal</a></strong><span data-contrast="auto"> and find out how you can donate your device today.</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">This Get Online Week, in partnership with Good Things Foundation, Vodafone is also aiming to help tens of thousands of people get online by supporting hundreds of free digital skills events in local communities across the UK. </span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">View our </span><strong><a href="https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org/discover/get-online-week/events-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener">map</a></strong><span data-contrast="auto"> to find your nearest event.</span></p><p><strong><em>Stay up to date with the latest news from Vodafone by following us on </em></strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/vodafone-uk-news-centre/"><strong><em>LinkedIn</em></strong></a><strong><em> and </em></strong><a href="https://twitter.com/vodafoneuknews"><strong><em>Twitter/X</em></strong></a><strong><em>, as well as signing up for News Centre website </em></strong><a href="https://newscentre.vodafone.co.uk/features/how-to-use-the-vodafone-uk-news-centre/"><strong><em>notifications</em></strong></a><strong><em>.</em></strong></p><p style="text-align: center;">-Ends-</p><h3>Notes to Editors</h3><p><span data-contrast="auto">Get Online Week is the UK’s largest and longest running digital inclusion campaign.</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">* Research conducted by 3Gem of 2,000 people from the </span><span data-contrast="none">UK general population, aged 18+, from 4th to 7th October 2024.</span></p><p><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW37646765 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW37646765 BCX0"><sup>1</sup> Calculated by multiplying the average number of </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW37646765 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW37646765 BCX0">old and unused devices Brits have in their home by the average number of adults in the UK according to the latest ONS <strong><a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/bulletins/annualmidyearpopulationestimates/mid2022#population-of-uk-at-mid-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a></strong></span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW37646765 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW37646765 BCX0">: 3 </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW37646765 BCX0">x </span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW37646765 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW37646765 BCX0">67,596,281 = 202,788,843.</span></span></p><p><sup>2</sup> <span class="TextRun Highlight Underlined SCXW241962198 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW241962198 BCX0" data-ccp-charstyle="Hyperlink">8.5m people who don’t have basic digital skills to get online, 2.4m households can’t afford their mobile phone contract and <strong><a href="https://www.goodthingsfoundation.org/policy-and-research/research-and-evidence/research-2024/digital-nation.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1.5m</a></strong> don’t have a smartphone, tablet or laptop</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW241962198 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW241962198 BCX0">.</span></span></p><p><sup>3</sup> <span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW266402773 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW266402773 BCX0">People aged 65+ have had old or unused devices in their home for an average of 4 years, with 39% having them for over 5 years</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW266402773 BCX0">.</span></span></p><p><strong>About Good Things Foundation </strong></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">Good Things Foundation is the UK’s leading digital inclusion charity. We work to fix the digital divide at a hyperlocal level with our National Digital Inclusion Network – comprised of over 5,000 community partners providing a range of free digital inclusion support, such as:</span></p><ul><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">The National Databank, providing free mobile data;</span></li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">The National Device Bank, supplying free, refurbished devices to people in need; and</span></li><li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Learn My Way, our free flagship basic digital skills platform, which has supported thousands to get online.</span></li></ul><p><span data-contrast="auto">We work in partnership with organisations such as Virgin Media O2, Vodafone, Accenture, and Nominet to deliver at scale, and advocate for digital inclusion to fix the digital divide – for good.</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">Good Things Foundation believes everyone should have the confidence, skills, support and access to use digital technology, participate in society and benefit from the digital world, with an ambition to partner with 5,000 UK communities and to support 1 million people by the end of 2025.</span></p><p><span data-contrast="auto">For more information on Good Things Foundation visit <a href="http://www.goodthingsfoundation.org">www.goodthingsfoundation.org</a></span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559740":240}"> </span></p> </section> </div> </article> </div> <div class="sidebar col-md-5 col-lg-4 offset-lg-1"> <div class="mt-4"> <h3 class="">Related media</h3> <div> <article class="listing media-listing single-media"> <div class="article-wrapper"> <div class="image-wrapper"> <div class="image-box"> <a class="image-container"> <figure class="thumbnail contain"> <picture><source srcset='https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/digital-divide-2024-map-great-british-tech-appeal-everyone-dot-connected-224x137.jpg.webp 224w' type='image/webp'/><source srcset='https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/digital-divide-2024-map-great-british-tech-appeal-everyone-dot-connected-224x137.jpg 224w' /><img 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srcset='https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/comfortcasesukheroimage-550x367.jpg.webp 550w' type='image/webp'/><source srcset='https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/comfortcasesukheroimage-550x367.jpg 550w' /><img src="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/comfortcasesukheroimage.jpg" alt="" title="comfortcasesukheroimage" /></picture> </figure> </a> </div> <h2 class="dotdotdot"><a href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/features/everyonedotconnected-sim-cards-have-the-biggest-impact-kids-care-comfort-cases-uk/">“These SIM cards have the biggest impact on our young people”</a></h2> </div> <div class="article-info-container"> <div class="author-line"> <a href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/features/"> <span class="category first"> Features </span> </a> <span class="separator">|</span> <span class="author first"> <a >Alan Lu</a> </span> <span class="separator">|</span> <date class="date last">31 Oct 2024</date> </div> </div> </div></article> <article class="listing single-featured"> <div class="article-wrapper"> <div class="image-wrapper"> <div class="image-box"> <a class="image-container" href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/features/get-online-week-stockport-cafe-digital-access/"> <figure class="thumbnail this"> <picture><source srcset='https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/DSC08192-224x149.jpg.webp 224w' media='(min-width: 0) and (max-width: 767px)' type='image/webp'/><source srcset='https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/DSC08192-224x149.jpg 224w' media='(min-width: 0) and (max-width: 767px)'/><source srcset='https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/DSC08192-550x367.jpg.webp 550w' type='image/webp'/><source srcset='https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/DSC08192-550x367.jpg 550w' /><img src="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/uploads/2024/10/DSC08192.jpg" alt="James Wilson, Senior Digital Inclusion Officer at Starting Point supporting learners in one of four weekly drop-in sessions in the community room at the coffee shop." title="DSC08192" /></picture> </figure> </a> </div> <h2 class="dotdotdot"><a href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/features/get-online-week-stockport-cafe-digital-access/">Stockport café builds digital access from the grounds up</a></h2> </div> <div class="article-info-container"> <div class="author-line"> <a href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/features/"> <span class="category first"> Features </span> </a> <span class="separator">|</span> <span class="author first"> <a >Mark Davison</a> </span> <span class="separator">|</span> <date class="date last">18 Oct 2024</date> </div> </div> </div></article> </div> <a class="btn mt-4 mb-4 w-100" href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/press-release/">See press release archive<img class="arrow right" src="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/themes/news/dist/images/icons/arrow-right.svg" border="0" alt="" /></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="addthis_inline_share_toolbox"></div> <section class="boilerplate mt-4 mb-4"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-12 col-lg-7"> <h3 class="category">About Vodafone UK</h3> <p>Vodafone UK is a technology communications company that connects people, businesses and devices to help our customers benefit from digital innovation. Our services span mobile, fixed-line connections, home and office broadband, and the Internet of Things (IoT).</p><p>We have a strong track record as a tech pioneer, making the UK’s first mobile phone call, sending the first text message, and making the UK’s first live holographic call using 5G in 2018. We were the first to start carrying live 5G traffic from a site in Salford, Greater Manchester and now have 5G in locations across Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain as well as the UK. Meanwhile, our 4G network coverage currently reaches over 99% of the UK population.</p><p>Today, Vodafone serves more than 18 million mobile and fixed-line customers in the UK. Vodafone is the largest provider of full fibre in the UK – our superfast broadband services are now available to nearly 12 million homes across the UK.</p><p>Sustainability is also at the heart of what we do: as of 1 July 2021, 100% of the grid electricity we use in the UK is certified to be from renewable sources.</p><p>For more information about Vodafone UK, please visit: <strong><span style="font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.vodafone.co.uk</a>.</span></strong></p> </div> <div class="col-12 col-lg-4 offset-lg-1"> <div> <h3 class="category">Vodafone UK Media Relations</h3> <p>Telephone: +44 (0) 1635 693 693</p><p>Email: ukmediarelations@vodafone.com</p><p>Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/VodafoneUKNews" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@VodafoneUKNews</a></p><p>Website: <a href="https://vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/">https://vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/</a></p><h6>Vodafone Limited</h6><p>Registered Office: Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN</p><p>Registered in England No: 1471587</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </main> </div> <script src="//assets.vodafone.co.uk/cs/groups/public/documents/js/ws2-shared-footer.min.js.js"></script><footer class="footer"></footer> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/plugins/metronet-profile-picture/js/mpp-frontend.js?ver=2.6.3" id="mpp_gutenberg_tabs-js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/themes/news/dist/scripts/main.js" id="sage/main.js-js"></script> <script src="//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jQuery.dotdotdot/3.2.2/jquery.dotdotdot.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-5ddbea4d4cd94315"></script> <script src="https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/app/themes/news/resources/assets/scripts/meganav.js"></script> <script>!function(e,t,n,s,u,a){e.twq||(s=e.twq=function(){s.exe?s.exe.apply(s,arguments):s.queue.push(arguments);},s.version='1.1',s.queue=[],u=t.createElement(n),u.async=!0,u.src='https://static.ads-twitter.com/uwt.js', a=t.getElementsByTagName(n)[0],a.parentNode.insertBefore(u,a))}(window,document,'script');twq('config','o7s8v');</script> <script type="text/javascript">// Insert Twitter Event ID twq('event', 'tw-o7s8v-ocd63', {});</script> </body></html>