Donating connectivity and tech
We continue to donate connectivity and tech where needed to help tackle the digital divide.
How we're helping with connectivity and tech
Great British Tech Appeal
Donate your old devices and we'll gift them to people in need through our Great British Tech Appeal, along with 6 months free data and unlimited calls and texts.
charities.connected
We’re working with many charity partners to help those in need get the access, knowledge and confidence to get online.
sports.connected
Vodafone has partnered with Sported to offer free connectivity, digital skills training and a grant-giving scheme to young people in community groups.
National Databank
Vodafone has joined Good Things Foundation's National Databank to provide free data for the charity's network of community groups across the UK and the people they support.
What our charity partners are saying
SIMs donated to Ukrainian refugees
Being connected to our friends, family and colleagues is something we take for granted these days, but for Ukrainian refugees it can be a lifeline.
Dronfield Rotary Club in Derbyshire is one of over 1,600 charities that signed up to Vodafone’s charities.connected initiative, meaning they’re able to donate SIMs to refugees and other vulnerable people to help them stay in touch with their loved ones around the world.
Not only this, but the connectivity donated has enabled many of the refugees to carry out critical activities such as creating bank accounts, hunting for jobs, and simply finding their way around with Google Maps. Being connected to our friends, family and colleagues is something we take for granted these days, but for Ukrainian refugees it can be a lifeline.
Belfast charity connects communities
After being the victim of a racial attack, former security officer Jahswill Emmanuel set up the Multi-Ethnic Sports and Culture Northern Ireland (MSCNI), a charity that aims to integrate Northern Ireland's diverse community through sporting and cultural activities. Helped by Vodafone's everyone.connected campaign, Jahswill has given out more than 100 SIMs to help vulnerable people in the community stay in touch with their loved ones. This has been so successful, Jahswill has already ordered 500 more from us.
Find out what else we’re doing to keep everyone connected
Upskilling businesses and communities is an important part of our connectivity campaign. We help businesses digitally transform with free tools and training, and help communities with digital tips on our Smart Living Hub and more.
We offer a special selection of affordable products and services so we can help make being connected accessible for each person.
Frequently asked questions
You can get involved by raising awareness of our charities.connected scheme to local charities.
Once the application has been submitted, we will aim to respond to confirm whether they have been successful within four weeks.
Yes. As long as each application shows how the charity’s proposed use of the free connectivity would tackle digital exclusion, they can apply as many times as they like.
Each application will be reviewed individually, regardless of how many applications have been submitted.
SIM cards will need to be activated within 18 months of receiving them.
Insert the SIM into a compatible and unlocked device, the connectivity will then automatically be activated.
Once activated, the user will receive a welcome SMS to let them know it’s up and running.
If the device is locked to another network (that isn't Vodafone), the user will need to contact that provider to ask them for a Network Unlock Code (NUC).
The SIM cards will come with a new phone number.
If users want to keep their existing phone number, they will need to request a PAC code from their network provider.
More info on this process can be found on the keep my number page
Each user will have 40GB of data available each month.
Once this limit is exceeded, they will need to wait until their next 30 days begins before the 40GB of data refreshes. For example, if you activated your SIM on 1 January 2024, the data will renew again on 31 January 2024.
The user will be sent a message when they have used 80% of their data allowance and another message when 100% has been used up.
Their calls and texts will still remain unlimited throughout.
Users will be notified by SMS that they are on their last month and any unused allowance on the SIM card will not be carried forward at the end of the last 30 days.
The user can then decide if they want to carry on using the SIM. If so, they simply need to top up and buy a new 'Big Value Bundle'.
If the user no longer wants to use SIM, they can simply let it expire.
If there is no outbound activity (making a call, sending an SMS, using data or topping up credit) after 180 days, the number will be disconnected.