“I am really isolated, staying in a small room. Thank you for providing me with a free SIM card—it has truly been a lifeline. Now, I can stay connected with my loved ones back home, which gives me great comfort.”
This testimony comes from ‘FE’, one of the asylum seekers helped by New Citizens Gateway (NCG), a London charity founded in 2005 and one of Vodafone’s charitable partners. While FE has chosen to remain anonymous, that hasn’t affected his desire for others to know about the help that he has received from NCG and Vodafone.
NCG has grown from helping people in the London Borough of Barnet to become a city-wide organisation with 16 staff and 80 volunteers. Like many other charities across the UK, it distributes free Vodafone SIMs to the people it helps as part of Vodafone’s everyone connected initiative to tackle digital exclusion across the country.
In addition to assisting refugees and asylum seekers with obvious practicalities, such as welfare advice, English classes, one-to-one counselling, accessing employment and legal aid, NCG also aims to nurture their mental health and wellbeing, as well as help them better integrate into British life.
It’s a holistic, well-rounded approach that FE has benefitted from. FE told Vodafone UK News: “As a new arrival, I face many challenges. With only £9 a week to cover my needs, I cannot afford internet or mobile connectivity.
“I have peace of mind now as I receive calls from my GP and lawyer. Also, I have a mental health problem, sometimes I need to go to a quiet place to attend my online therapy session or join my English class. I have joined NCG gardening and language classes which helps me a lot, mentally.”
While FE received a second-hand smartphone from NCG, the lack of available devices isn’t the only issue facing NCG and the people it helps.
Teaching digital literacy to people who may lack both English and basic online skills can be challenging. Farida, a staffer at NCG, told Vodafone UK News: “Teaching digital literacy requires time, patience, and tailored resources. Some individuals are intimidated by technology or fear their personal information will be misused.
“Even after initial training, continuous support is needed, both for troubleshooting and as they continue adapting to these new technologies. We organise workshops to raise awareness among our clients about scams and protecting their personal information.”
As more and more aspects of everyday life in the UK are done online, having digital literacy isn’t a luxury, but a necessity.
Despite the challenges he faces, FE is optimistic: “I am very grateful to Vodafone for supporting asylum seekers like me. This big help makes a huge difference and gives me a sense of dignity and hope as I go through this difficult journey.”
Charities can apply for everyone.connected SIM cards, for the people they help and for their own operations, on the charities.connected webpage.
