PE and school trips get a connectivity boost thanks to the donation.
Over 50 schools and grassroots rugby clubs have received MiFi devices and SIM cards loaded with 40GB of data. The devices were donated by the Jason Robinson Foundation and connectivity provisioned through Vodafone’s charities.connected initiative.
The Jason Robinson Foundation focuses on ensuring that children and young people can access sport and physical education. 54 MiFi devices – portable broadband routers – have been donated to schools and grassroots rugby clubs in the charity’s network across the UK. The MiFi routers will provide schools and clubs with much-needed connectivity so teachers can access online teaching and training resources, schedules and videos while out on sports pitches or school trips.
The MiFi routers were originally used at the Rugby League World Cup by the teams competing at the tournament. Vodafone Business – the Official Technology Partner to the Rugby League World Cup – provided these to keep the players and the accompanying support staff connected to their friends and family while overseas. Vodafone’s free charities.connected SIMs have extended the life of the MiFis for another six months.
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Jason Robinson visited one of the schools receiving MiFi routers and SIM cards – Bankside Primary School, Leeds – to meet Headteacher Sarah Rutty and some of the aspiring young rugby players from the school who also play for the local rugby league club, Chapeltown Cougars. Jason has a strong personal connection to Bankside Primary, having grown up in the local area.
Sarah Rutty, Headteacher at Bankside Primary School, said: “It is a huge privilege for the school to be involved in this initiative. Jason is a local sporting hero and to have him visit the school and provide us with these devices is fantastic. The connectivity will take the level of physical education that we are able to offer to our students to the next level and cement technology into the enhancement of physical education.”
Jason Robinson, Vodafone Business ambassador, said: “Bankside Primary is a fantastic school and one that is very close to my heart as I grew up just 200 metres down the road. The Foundation is so pleased to receive the devices and the much-needed connectivity from Vodafone Business.
“We know first-hand the impact that this will have on the schools and grassroots rugby clubs in the network.”
Credits: Alexander Viner
Ex-rugby winger Jason Robinson (left) showing Bankside Primary PE teacher Will Lancaster the PE Pro app, while being connected with a Vodafone everyone.connected SIM and MiFi.
Nick Gliddon, Vodafone Business Director, said: “It is brilliant that we have been able to find new homes for the MiFi devices through our charities.connected initiative. At Vodafone we put purpose at the very heart of the business, and the connectivity we can offer will have a huge and positive impact on the schools. We hope this will help nurture the next generation of sporting talent.”
Vodafone’s charities.connected programme launched in 2021 and gives every UK registered charity the opportunity to apply for free connectivity to improve its digital capability or help the individuals and families it supports to get online. To date, the initiative has supported over 1,800 organisations across a range of social causes, including refugees, domestic abuse, homelessness, healthcare and learning disabilities.
Each SIM card donated to The Jason Robinson Foundation comes with 40GB of mobile data, as well as unlimited calls and texts, for six months. Vodafone’s everyone.connected campaign is committed to tackling digital exclusion by helping four million people cross the digital divide by 2025. One of the main ways they are doing this is by providing free SIM cards with 40GB data a month, plus unlimited calls and texts, for six months to charities across the UK.
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Note to editors
Jason Robinson Foundation
The Jason Robinson Foundation was established in 2022 by Jason Robinson, the two-sport international and Rugby World Cup winner with England. Jason grew up in Leeds and benefited from the help and support of key individuals and organisations within the community. Jason’s passion is to ensure that children and young people receive the same help, support, and inspiration as he received.
The Jason Robinson Foundation has a key focus on ensuring that children and young people have fun and get active through sport and physical activity. Working nationally but with an initial focus on supporting communities in Leeds, the Jason Robinson Foundation works directly with schools and community groups to inspire more children and young people to get active and play sport. The Jason Robinson Foundation uses Jason’s unique backstory and experience to help inspire people and communities to be more active and healthier. Jason is heavily involved in the work of the foundation and actively engages with all aspects of our work.
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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.
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