Technology Access – Leeds Refugee Forum

Tech Lending Community Project

Our Tech Lending Community Project works in partnership with temporary accommodations in Leeds to tackle digital exclusion. We aim to reach people living in vulnerable and uncertain circumstances and offer them the opportunity to connect with the digital world.

We do this by lending tablets to people who live in one of our temporary accommodation partners’ residences. The tablets we provide include 25GB of monthly data and unlimited national calls and texts. We currently work with 13 accommodations and have 175 tablets in use. The tablets allow users to improve their English, learn skills, stay in contact with friends and family, and access essential services.

Phone Line Support Project

Leeds Refugee Forum is a member of the National Digital Inclusion Network created by the Good Things Foundation. Through the network we provide SIM cards to asylum seekers and refugees based in Leeds.

The main objective of our Phone Line Support Project is to integrate destitute asylum seekers and refugees into the broader community by sharing opportunities and tools that only virtual and digital devices can offer. To promote digital inclusion, the O2 SIM card offers free national calls and texts and 25GB of monthly data to those who are eligible. This helps our service users feel more connected to their local and global communities and with their loved ones.