Virgin Money has announced further support, including free mobile data, for anyone who is at risk of suffering from “digital exclusion”.
The bank will partner with Good Things Foundation to introduce the National Databank programme into its 91 locations across the UK.
This service, founded by the charity and Virgin Media O2, provides free mobile data, texts and calls for people in need.
It is available to digitally excluded people, which includes anyone who does not have access to regular access to the internet who can visit their nearest Virgin Money branch.
The scheme will support people who struggle to access broadband services
PAThose who use this service can pick up an O2 sim card which comes with 20GB of free data which is enough for around 220 hours of internet browsing per month.
This free allowance renews every month for six months and could assist customers with vital services such as online banking.
Furthermore, Good Things Foundation has given training to Virgin Money’s customer service colleagues to help identify people who are more likely to be impacted by digital exclusion. Employees will be identify "digitally excluded" people to their nearest databank organisation, often a community group, should they live outside of a store location.
Anyone impacted by “digital exclusion” can find out their local Virgin Money branch by checking the bank’s website.
One in four households have no home internet access at all and 10.2 million Britons lack basic digital skills to use the internet, according to Good Things Foundation.
James Peirson, the general counsel and purpose officer at Virgin Money warned that “digital exclusion is a real issue” which needs to be tackled.
He explained: “For many low or no-income households, paying for broadband is often seen as a luxury that they can’t afford, but in reality, it is an essential purchase – especially in this digital age.”
Helen Milner OBE, the group CEO of Good Things Foundation, added: “We’re delighted to help tackle digital exclusion by extending our partnership with Virgin Money to make the National Databank available to its full network of 91 stores.
“We need to act now. By the end of 2025, our ambition is to engage one million people helping them benefit from the digital world and support 5,000 Digital Inclusion Hubs across the UK. Together we can fix the digital divide.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The bank's customers will be trained to identify people who may be 'digitally excluded'
VIRIGN MONEY
Here is a full list of the Virgin Money branches which will have services to tackle “digital exclusion”:
- Glasgow Shawlands
- Kilmarnock
- Newton Mearns
- Glasgow City, Royal Exchange Square
- Kirkintilloch
- Glasgow Hillhead
- Clydebank
- Greenock
- Paisley
- Campbeltown
- Hamilton
- Rutherglen
- Baillieston
- Motherwell
- Carlisle
- Dumfries
- Ayr
- Stirling
- Dundee High St
- Glenrothes
- Perth
- Inverurie
- Aberdeen Principal
- Aberdeen St Nicholas
- Montrose
- Elgin
- Keith
- Inverness
- Peterhead
- Kirkwall
- Lerwick
- Stornoway
- Tobermory
- Darlington
- South Shields Fowler St
- Stockton
- Thornaby
- Middlesbrough
- Eston
- Hartlepool
- Harrogate
- Scarborough
- Hull Holderness Road
- Hull
- Grimsby
- Castleford
- Wakefield
- Scunthorpe
- York
- Sheffield City
- Sheffield Hillsborough
- Sheffield Woodseats
- Barnsley
- Doncaster
- Rotherham
- Peterborough
- Leicester
- Mansfield
- Nottingham
- Birmingham City
- Coventry
- Northampton
- Lancaster
- St Helens
- Blackpool
- Preston
- Bolton
- Burnley
- Rochdale
- Manchester City
- Stockport
- Oldham
- Cleckheaton
- Pudsey
- Huddersfield
- Bradford
- Halifax
- Shipley
- Dewsbury
- Edinburgh George St
- Livingston
- Dunfermline
- Falkirk
- Newcastle
- Cramlington
- Washington
- Sunderland Fawcett Street
- Leeds City
- Leeds Crossgates
- Leeds Hunslet
- Leeds Moortown