Digital poverty in the UK affects people in some of the most difficult circumstances - homelessness, forced displacement, long-term illness, or financial hardship. Limited access to devices or data means barriers to essential tasks like managing healthcare, accessing support or staying connected with family. The result is increased isolation and exclusion from opportunities that many of us take for granted.
Stephenson Harwood has partnered with SimPal, a UK charity that tackles digital poverty by providing free phones, laptops, and connectivity to those most in need. By distributing pre-loved devices and SIM cards with six months of free data, SimPal helps people regain access to vital services and connections.
Chris Noakes, IT Service Delivery Manager, Stephenson Harwood, identified SimPal as an ideal partner for the IT team, who wanted to work with a charity whose mission closely aligns with their expertise. The team launched an initiative to identify firm devices coming out of circulation, securely wipe and prepare them for reuse, and donate them to SimPal for redistribution.
Chris said, “Working with SimPal has made me reflect on how much we take everyday technology for granted. It’s often the small things - tapping onto transport, checking directions, sending messages, or even obtaining a loyalty card to access discounts on everyday items - that we’ve come to accept as normal.
“Without access to technology and connectivity, daily life becomes much harder. While we often focus on big tech innovations, it’s these routine interactions that quietly underpin how we live, work and move through the world. Partnering with SimPal brings that into sharp focus, giving us a tangible way to support those facing digital poverty and at the same time encouraging us to make more meaningful and responsible use of technology across the firm.”
Chris Lewis, CEO of SimPal, said, “As more services move online, access to technology is no longer a ‘nice to have’ – it’s essential. Yet across the UK, many people are still being left behind by digital poverty.
“Access to a device and connectivity can transform how someone lives day to day - that’s why partnerships like the one with Stephenson Harwood are so important. By repurposing devices that are no longer needed within the firm, we’re able to turn existing technology into something that has a real, practical impact for people who need it most.”
Through this partnership, Stephenson Harwood is helping to bridge the digital divide, supporting SimPal’s mission to ensure everyone, regardless of circumstance, has the tools they need to stay connected and thrive in a digital world.
