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You could help make a difference to the lives of local children

Whilst many of us have been able to overcome challenges of keeping in touch with friends and relatives during the current lockdown by using smartphones and digital devices, not everyone is as lucky.

A number of children in the borough have had to go without seeing any of their relatives for weeks on end due to their unique circumstances. We’re talking about children who are in the care of the local authority.

Children and young people who, due to individual circumstances, cannot live at home or with extended family, but many do keep in touch with extended family and relatives through scheduled visits arranged by the Council.

Councillor Ian Lindley, portfolio holder for children, education and young people at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “Since the Government first imposed the lockdown in March, many of the young people have been unable to see their relatives or talk to them over a digital device.

“Many of us have old phones that we’ve kept in a drawer or left on the side after we’ve upgraded that could be put to better use.

“Not everyone has access to the internet and smart phones – this is a way you could make a real difference to someone’s life during this pandemic.

“These are some great kids who have been removed from their families – more often than not through no fault of their own – and they just want that contact that they look forward to. For them this is a huge struggle.

“We’re asking people and businesses to donate their old smartphones if they can. We’ve all chucked our old devices in a drawer on left it on a shelf when we’ve upgraded, so this is a chance to give it a new lease of life and help make someone’s day.”

One youngster said: “It is so important to be able to see the people most important to us because when I can see them smile, it makes me smile too.”

To donate your old smartphone, check the list below to make sure it meets the necessary criteria, then drop it off (following the Government’s guidelines around social distancing) at Broadway Children’s Centre, Broadway, Grimsby, North East Lincs, DN34 5RS on a Tuesday or Thursday morning between 10am and 12noon.

If these times are not suitable or you can’t get to the centre, email admin.yps@nelincs.gov.uk to arrange collection.

The checklist

To be able to be used by one of the young people, the smartphone must:

  • Be unlocked to allow it to be used on any network
  • Have all photos and personal data removed from it
  • Be reset to the original factory settings (including the removal of any previous password locks)
  • Have a working phone charger with it
  • Have the sim card removed

Once you’re certain your spare phone meets these criteria, place it in a sealed plastic bag or envelope labelled with your name and a contact email address or phone number. This is so we can get in touch with you if we need to check something about the phone or just to say ‘thank you.’

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