Sported and Vodafone Tackle Youth Digital Exclusion in the UK
May 26, 2023
Sported – the UK’s largest network of community groups working to promote fairness and equity for youth – has teamed up with mobile network provider Vodafone to tackle digital exclusion among young people. The "sports.connected" campaign is an extension of Vodafone’s everyone.connected campaign, which is committed to helping four million people across the digital divide before the end of 2025.
Sported works to provide opportunities for young people by supporting 2900 grassroots organizations, with nearly half operating in the country’s most deprived areas. The charity lends its professional expertise, resources and operational support – free of charge – to help improve the equity and welfare of young people through sports and physical activity.
School closures during the pandemic highlighted the importance of digital access for children and youth. Recent research found that 2.1 million young people are at risk of becoming digitally excluded across the UK. Additionally, a UNICEF report revealed that 8% of children aged 5-15 do not have access to an internet-enabled desktop computer, laptop or netbook at home. “Inequality is deepening as digital inclusion increases in importance... The children [without digital access] represent those who already experience compounding disadvantage due to their socioeconomic status and are consequently falling further behind their peers,” stated the report.
New Sported research shows that 66% of groups within its network don’t consider themselves to be well connected and 88% believe digital skills support would be valuable. A further 71% added that a six-month SIM plan would be beneficial to their members. Through the partnership, Vodafone offer free connectivity and digital skills training through sports.connected as part of its everyone.connected campaign to provide people with resources to stay connected and participate fully in an increasingly digital world. The initiative also includes a grant program to support the vital work of grassroots organizations and groups that are engaging young people, tackling inequality and boosting health and wellbeing through sport.
“Digital exclusion is a very real issue for many of those in the groups we work with, so giving them access to connectivity and to skills training is going to be a game-changer. It will help boost the vital work the clubs do in supporting their local communities and in using sport and physical activity to connect with and positively influence young people” said Sarah Kaye, Sported CEO.
During the first year, Vodafone has pledged to help over 200 of Sported’s community groups across the UK including Manchester, London, Cardiff, Stoke-on-Trent, Darlington, Glasgow and Belfast and provide opportunities to over 12,000 youth. It will provide SIM cards and devices and will be co-creating a bespoke digital business skills platform through its V-hub that will feature webinars, toolkits and training to help clubs raise more funding and engage more young people in sport. The training will be tailored to the needs of each club.
Sported is a Rexona Breaking Limits Program partner. The Rexona (also known as Sure, Degree or Shield) Breaking Limits Program in partnership with Beyond Sport is on a mission to empower millions of young people with the right to move. Access the program's free digital training series here – available in English, Spanish and Portuguese.