Learning trust becomes 1,000th national databank hub in UK
Summit Learning Trust became the UK 's 1,000th National Databank Hub, providing free mobile data, texts and calls to help those in need in Birmingham and Solihull stay connected.
Virgin Media O2 and digital inclusion charity, Good Things Foundation, are announcing the landmark opening of the Databank Hub, which is based in Solihull and also supports residents across Birmingham, as part of their ongoing work to ensure that National Databank can support more people across the country as the cost-of-living crisis continues.
It comes as new research reveals that more than a third (36 per cent) of people in the West Midlands are only one pay slip away from serious hardship and are even limiting how they use their mobile phones to cut down on costs.
The study also found that, across the country, the cost-of-living crisis is stopping one in ten low-income Brits - those with household incomes of up to £25,000 - from calling or texting their loved ones, while 10 per cent are limiting how they use their mobile data.
A further 70 per cent of those earning less than £25,000 say they don 't know what they 'd do if they couldn 't access the internet, with almost four in ten (38 per cent) saying they rely on their phone to get online.
The Summit Learning Trust, which already supports 8,000 learners across Birmingham and Solihull, is providing families in need with free O2 mobile data, texts, and calls so they can get online and stay connected to loved ones.
They can get 20GB of free O2 data per month - enough for around 220 hours of internet browsing per month.
Commenting on the hub opening, Vince Green, CEO of Summit Learning Trust, said: “Summit Learning Trust is proud to be joining 999 other databank hubs around the UK who are working tirelessly to ensure families can access free mobile data and receive the vital support they need.
“With a network of approximately 8,000 learners at Summit Learning Trust, across Birmingham and Solihull, we are perfectly positioned to support our community in this way and continue the work that Good Things Foundation and Virgin Media O2 are doing.
Since the National Databank launched in July 2021, Virgin Media O2 has provided more than 70,000 free O2 SIM cards and 50,000 free O2 data vouchers.
Nicola Green from Virgin Media O2 said: “We 're proud to support the opening of the UK 's 1000th National Databank Hub at Summit Learning Trust to help people across Birmingham and Solihull to get online and stay connected to loved ones.
“As proud founders of the National Databank, Virgin Media O2 has committed more than 61 million GB of O2 data to help people get free data, texts and calls so they and their families can access essential websites, study and work from home, and keep in touch with their friends and family. ”