A local smartphone donation drive has been launched to provide a lifeline to Glasgow's digitally excluded.
Community Calling aims to give 1,500 devices to households without the internet and are inviting public and businesses to donate.
With the donation of a device and 12 months of free data from O2 (6GB per month and unlimited calls and texts).
Two beneficiaries of Community Calling are Stewart Barclay, 88, and Margaret Quaill, 80, who live in the north east of Glasgow.
The pair have received new smartphones and one-to-one sessions on how to use them which are being delivered by the Alive & Kicking charity.
Stewart lives alone and his large family live across the UK while Margaret’s two sons live in the Bahamas.
They have so far been getting by using mobiles, which only allow texting, and did not have the knowledge or confidence to use smartphones.
They have attended two training sessions where they have been taught how to access all the different apps on the phone.
It comes as a new report by Ofcom revealed that 17% of the Scottish population do not have access to the internet at home . That’s an estimated 928,000 people in Scotland for whom it’s a challenge to connect with family, friends and online support and information.
While many people are currently struggling without a device, it is also estimated that an average of four phones are sitting unused for every one phone in use in the UK – which could amount to as many as 3.1 million devices in Glasgow.
155,000 tonnes of electronic waste are being thrown away each year in the UK, causing unnecessary carbon emissions when the phones are sent to landfill or incineration.
By rehoming old devices, the campaign aims to save over 80 tonnes of carbon emissions and divert 1,500 smartphones from landfill in Glasgow.
Gavin Ellis, Director and Co-Founder at Hubbub, said: “It’s been heart-warming to see the positive impact receiving a smartphone through the Community Calling project has already had on so many people’s lives.
"Being connected to loved ones and accessing essential services is easily taken for granted but, even as lockdown lifts, it is still not a reality for too many people. We’re excited to be working with O2 to expand Community Calling to Glasgow to get more people connected and prevent unnecessary electrical waste, which is a major contributor to climate change.
"We’re calling on individuals and businesses with spare smartphones to donate them to somebody who needs a device.”
Councillor Angus Millar, Chair of the Digital Glasgow Board, said: “We are pleased to be working with city partners to help distribute these recycled phones, which will make a significant difference to lives across Glasgow.
"We know that digital exclusion is a key challenge for the city and a barrier to many people accessing all types of opportunities and services, and this is a project that will really deliver economic, environmental and social benefits to Glasgow - and especially those who need such support most.”
O2 and Hubbub are working closely with Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector (GCVS) to identify individuals with unmet digital needs, due to lack of access, affordability, confidence and skills.
To support the campaign and donate your old smartphone to Community Calling - visit http://www.hubbub.org.uk/communitycalling
