The National Databank
We know that there are many residents may not be able to get online due to rising costs, but we understand that staying connected is vital to access services, support and stay connected with others.
Coventry City Council has signed up with the National Databank to help distribute free data to residents who are struggling to afford to keep connected.
Who is eligible to receive support from the National Databank?
To be eligible to receive data from the National Databank, the individual must:
- Be 18+ years old
- and be from a low-income household
And qualify in one or several of the following statements:
- Has no access or insufficient access to the internet at home
- and/or has no or insufficient access to the internet when away from the home
- and/or cannot afford their existing monthly contract or top up
How do I access the data?
Residents can access data support from over 50 city locations which include Libraries, Family Hubs, the Customer Service Centre and many more.
Please use our #CovConnects map to find a convenient location.
Are you an organisation interested in supporting your community via the National Databank?
We are working with community organisations to increase our National Databank network across the city. If your organisation supports residents, please consider signing up to the National Databank to join us in reducing data poverty and keeping our residents connected.
How do organisations sign up with the National Databank?
The National Databank is open to all community organisations that are members of the Good Things Foundation’s National Digital Inclusion Network. If you are not a member yet, you can sign up free to join, enabling access to training, the National Databank and other funding opportunities.
If you are already a member of the Good Things Foundation’s National Digital Inclusion Network, you can apply to be part of the National Databank by accessing their funding opportunities.
What impact can support from the National Databank make?
The Good Things Foundation have shared the below case study to highlight the positive impact supporting people to stay connected can make.
Paul, who is in his late forties, experiences many mental and physical health challenges.
Suffering from several debilitating illnesses, Paul’s day-to-day life is a struggle. He relies on constant support from his partner and carer, and is unable to live independently. Paul is not well enough to leave his home, which means he spends almost every day stuck indoors, disconnected from the outside world.
Paul treasures every bit of data he gets, but is often forced to monitor his usage extremely closely and make difficult decisions about what he uses the data for. The unpredictability of Paul’s health conditions means he never knows when he will need to call his GP or emergency services. Paul is scared of finding himself in an emergency and not having enough data to contact anyone. His usual data allowance does not allow for waiting in long phone queues or long phone calls to his pharmacist.
Since August, Paul has been depending on data vouchers given to him by his local Online Centre – SmartLyte in Birmingham – through the National Databank, delivered by Good Things Foundation. The data vouchers have proved a lifeline for Paul who has been able to connect with his family and keep in essential contact with his GP.
The vouchers have taken away some of Paul’s loneliness, making him feel more connected to his children. His mental health has improved and he feels less stressed every day. Paul is grateful that his mobile phone and data allow him to see what his friends and family are up to and that he can follow them on social media. The vouchers provide an invaluable connection to them, helping him to feel less isolated and more independent.
