Trussell connecting digitally excluded families
The Wiltshire-based food bank say 1 in 6 people referred to their food banks lack internet access
Last updated 13th Dec 2024
A Salisbury-based charity is helping struggling families across the country get connected.
Across the UK, research by Trussell found one in six people coming to their foodbanks had no internet access - something that's become essential in modern day life.
In partnership with Vodafone, they've been giving those worst off SIM cards to get online.
Trussell's Director of Public Engagement, Sophie Carre told Greatest Hits Radio, it's something most of us take for granted - but there are many who are cut off.
She said: "Many people who are disconnected are at real risk of social isolation and we know that one in four people visiting a food bank have experienced real severe isolation. So you're absolutely right, connectivity is super important and unfortunately a lot of people are going without."
While finances are a big reason for people being digitally excluded, lacking skills with technology is also a factor that people being disconnected, which Sophie told us makes other issues within poverty worse.
She said: "Digital exclusion just really exacerbates hunger and poverty and the crisis that you're in at the moment because it's so difficult to access help.
"The level of pressure and stress that that puts on someone at a time when they're really struggling is a huge extra burden."
The push to get struggling families online is part of the Trussell's efforts to end poverty across the UK.
The charity has also been calling for an essentials guarantee to be made law to support poorer households through Universal Credit.
Sophie said: "This would ensure that the basic rate of Universal Credit always at least covers essentials such as food and bills and it can never for below that level.
"So it's about having for the first time in history a minimum protected income for people and basing social security on what it really costs for the bare essentials."