Carnival Internet UK partners with charity to tackle digital exclusion
Carnival Internet UK has established a partnership with Community TechAid aimed at addressing digital exclusion and electronic waste in the United Kingdom.
The collaboration comes as approximately 1.7 million UK households remain without internet access, while the country generates more than 1.6 million tonnes of electronic waste each year. The partnership intends to enable access to technology for individuals and families who otherwise lack it, while also reducing landfill waste through the refurbishing and redistribution of digital devices.
Community TechAid, a charity based in Brixton, South London, has been active in reducing digital poverty since March 2020. With a combination of staff members and volunteers, the organisation collects, repairs, and hands out technology to individuals and groups who would otherwise be digitally excluded.
The partnership includes Carnival Internet UK's commitment to donate 1% of its customers' bills to charitable initiatives, beginning with Community TechAid. Additional support will include fundraising efforts, facilitating device donations, sponsorship opportunities, and employee volunteering to aid the charity's activities.
Addressing digital poverty
Stephanie Charbine, Partnership and Engagement Manager at Community TechAid, outlined the scale of the charity's work to date and highlighted the impact that Carnival Internet UK's support will make.
"Community TechAid has already redistributed over 5,000 devices, diverted over 20 tonnes of e-waste from landfills, and provided over 300 hours of digital skills training.
"The support from Carnival Internet UK will allow us to expand our reach, refurbish more devices, and provide vital digital skills training to individuals facing digital exclusion, including families, job seekers, refugees, and students. By redistributing devices, we not only help those in need but also significantly reduce e-waste, making a lasting impact on both communities and the environment."
The charity's redistribution efforts are part of a broader campaign to ensure more equitable access to digital resources and necessary training, thus helping to increase opportunities for employment and connection for many people within the capital and beyond.
Carnival Internet UK's approach
Carnival Internet UK, which operates as part of Dotlines UK, combines its service provision with environmental and community commitments. The business contributes to other environmental schemes, including planting trees and kelp for carbon offsetting. Its environmental roadmap includes planting one million trees over five years.
Olly Sedden, Director of Product, Commercial and Marketing at Dotlines UK, framed the partnership as a foundational element of Carnival Internet UK's business practice.
"At Carnival Internet UK, we're in a privileged position to be starting a business from scratch, so we were keen to start as we mean to go on; using our technology and business to drive positive change in the world around us. This partnership with Community TechAid aligns with our mission to ensure digital access is a right, not a privilege. By donating a percentage of all our customers' bills from our high-quality broadband, we can support the repurposing of devices to those that need them most; not only doing our bit to help bridge the digital divide but also leading the way in sustainable and socially responsible business practices from day one."
The new initiative embeds volunteering and skills exchange within its structure. Both organisations will work to promote awareness of issues related to digital inclusion and contribute to improving environmental sustainability in relation to electronic waste.
This partnership is designed to deliver both social and environmental benefits by refurbishing unused digital devices for redistribution and reducing the volume of electronic waste in the UK's landfills.
