Fixing the digital divide in Greater Manchester - June 2022

Published date: 
Monday, 27th June 2022

Mayor of Greater Manchester calls on businesses and community groups to support residents to get online

 

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has launched two pioneering initiatives as part of a renewed drive to support Greater Manchester’s most disadvantaged residents to get online and be supported to access services online.

In response to the increased cost of living in Britain and concerns around the impact of this on our poorest households, Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester has launched the Greater Manchester Databank, part of the National Databank run by Good Things Foundation.

The region’s goal is to get free mobile connectivity to people who need it by working with digital inclusion charity Good Things Foundation to launch the National Databank locally, in a bid to tackle digital poverty across Greater Manchester.

Local community organisations across Greater Manchester can apply for access to the databank, giving them the ability to access support for local residents experiencing multiple inequalities with connectivity offers, including 12 months free data and access to digital skills training and support.

Community organisations can apply to access the Greater Manchester Databank by:

  • Signing up to become a member of the Good Things Foundation Online Centres Network
  • Completing a short application form to join the National Databank. 

The National Databank, run by Good Things Foundation, currently has enough data to help 500,000 people nationally, with data donated by internet service providers Virgin Media O2, Vodafone and Three.   

Encouraging uptake of the support available through the National Databank across Greater Manchester will help ensure residents can access this data and connect to the internet for free, helping prevent residents on low incomes from becoming locked out of the opportunities that digital access brings such as the ability to apply for jobs, access health services and stay connected with friends and family.

Read more on the Greater Manchester Databank