How have other businesses stepped up?
Explore one of the many charity platforms bringing together offers of support with needs that are emerging across society. Here’s some to get you started:
Digital devices have been critical to our ability to maintain social contact and access information. Lack of digital access has therefore presented challenges for the UK’s estimated 1.9 million households that do not have access to the internet. Vulnerable communities face being isolated in their homes with limited means to communicate or access information and services.
Your business can make a difference by donating tablets, smartphones, laptops, and connectivity solutions like sim cards and dongles to prevent vulnerable people from being cut off from the outside world – find details of how you can help at DevicesDotNow or SocialBox.biz. You can also find information about the Good Things Foundations’ work to close the digital divide through community outreach work and collaboration with local businesses.
Digital poverty has had a particularly damaging impact on schoolchildren. With most children now learning from home during the third lockdown, disadvantaged children without access to suitable devices are at risk of falling behind with their education. Here are some ways businesses can support schools:
Businesses have been taking steps to support their customers and maintain provision of services for people facing challenges at this time. For instance, broadband firms removed caps on data allowances and energy providers have been making sure people in financial distress do not lose essential services.
Over the past few months the CBI has been helping connect businesses to initiatives making a difference to those facing hardship. We have:
The scheme aims to widen access to technology and data amongst young Londoners and support digital inclusion.
The campaign highlights ways businesses can support their employees, communities and environment.
Supporting families in hardship was part of a wider initiative the CBI undertook to bring businesses together to address the social and economic challenges presented by coronavirus. You may also read about our redeploying people challenge - which helped businesses redeploy staff from low to high demand sectors - and our supporting mental health challenge - which helped businesses step up to support employees and their families.