Flintshire Council has become the first in North Wales to provide low-income residents with mobile phone support. 

The council has joined forces with the Good Things Foundation to ensure low-income residents are digitally enabled through the National Databank. 

This new partnership will see free SIM cards and data vouchers distributed from five Connects Centres in Flintshire to eligible residents, taking a trust-based approach.  The free data has been provided by Virgin Media O2, Vodafone and Three.  

The five centres are located in Buckley, Connah's Quay, Flint, Holywell, Mold. 

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The  Connect Centres have recently joined Good Things Foundation’s National Digital Inclusion Network (‘online centres’) which gives the council access to the National Databank.

Good Things Foundation is a charity helping people improve their lives through digital and their vision fits well with the council’s ambitions.

Flintshire’s cabinet member for Governance and Corporate Services, Councillor Billy Mullin, said: “I am delighted to announce the introduction of a Databank at all our Connects Centres.  I am especially proud that Flintshire is one of the first councils in Wales – and the first in North Wales - to provide this service.  

“Providing free data SIMs to residents in low income households means no one should be left behind in our developing digital world. The teams at our Connects Centres are available to support residents to access the internet and I encourage anyone who needs our help to get in touch.”

As part of the council’s digital vision, it is working with partners to support people to get online, helping residents access the internet, data connectivity and devices, helping to fix the digital divide in communities.

Good Things Foundation’s Director for Evidence and Engagement, Emma Stone, said: “We are thrilled Flintshire has come on board and joined our network and National Databank. As a proud partner to Cwmpas and Digital Communities Wales - we hope more councils and community organisations will follow Flintshire’s example and help to tackle data poverty and fix the digital divide in communities.”  

For more information, visit Flintshire councils website.