Barclays Community Fund gives £100,000 to support digitally excluded and disadvantaged people during Covid-19

This new funding from Barclays will be used to purchase devices and data packages, specifically for disadvantaged households through the Everyone Connected programme.

The COVID-19 pandemic means digital inclusion matters more than ever before for people’s finances, health and wellbeing. It has exposed the UK’s digital divide, and exacerbated digital exclusion. Recent data releases on the digital divide before the pandemic tell us that seven million people in the UK don’t have access to the internet at home, while cost is a barrier for one in five of people.

Good Things Foundation works with community partners across the UK to support households who don’t have access to digital devices or services. Funding from the Barclays Community Fund will provide initial and ongoing support to households that require digital devices to support their needs. Having access to a device will allow people to support their children, to use the device to keep healthy and safe online, while giving them access to essential services, and to stay in touch with family and friends.

By reaching those most in need of support, local charities, such as the Good Things Foundation have played a vital role in this crisis
Matthew Chenery, Barclays Relationship Director

Digital support will empower device recipients, giving them the confidence and skills they need to use their devices for the things they need, immediately and over the next few years.

Helen Milner OBE, Group Chief Executive at Good Things Foundation, commented:

“It’s vitally important that we continue to support disadvantaged households that don’t have internet access in the current pandemic. Through work with our community partners we know that digital access has been a lifeline to thousands of people during lockdown; the need for urgent collective action to Fix the Digital Divide has never been greater.

“This welcome funding from the Barclays Community Fund will allow us to purchase devices and data packages for those who need it, enabling our network of community partners to carry on offering digital support to their communities. We can’t wait to get the connected devices out to those that need them the most and we’re excited to be working with Barclays on the Everyone Connected programme.”

Back in April, Barclays announced a £100m Community Aid Package to support charities that are helping people and communities most impacted by COVID-19. £10m of this funding has been donated through their 100×100 UK COVID-19 Community Relief Programme, with the Good Things Foundation being one of 100 UK charities each receiving a donation of £100k, allowing their important work to continue.

Matthew Chenery, Barclays Relationship Director, said:

“This crisis has had an unprecedented impact across the UK and we know this is an incredibly challenging time for many across South Yorkshire. By reaching those most in need of support, local charities, such as the Good Things Foundation have played a vital role in this crisis to date, and no doubt they will do going forward. As a proud member of our community, we are doing everything we can for our customers, clients and colleagues, and we hope that our partnership with the Good Things Foundation will allow many others to access the help they need as this crisis develops.”