• Scarlett Moffatt and Three UK team up to inspire the nation to give the gift of connectivity

• The average Brit holds onto at least 3 old phones – which could help a disadvantaged person get back on their feet

• The mobile network has pledged to collect 10,000 phones

22nd November 2022 - Black Friday and Christmas are on the horizon, and lots of Brits will be hitting the high street looking to switch out their current phone for a new one. With many coming in store to take advantage of Three’s amazing offers, Scarlett Moffatt has teamed up with the UK’s Fastest 5G Network* to ask people to donate their unused handsets. To encourage donations, Three has made a pledge to collect 10,000 old phones to help connect disadvantaged people – launching at its flagship London store this Friday.

New research from Three has revealed that on average there are at least three unused phones sat in every UK household, that’s 84.3 million across the UK. With over a third (37%) saying they do this because they don’t know what else to do with them.

Three is offering people the chance to give the gift of connectivity this Black Friday by donating an old phone that will go to someone in need. Despite the rise in cost of living, the nation’s spirit of giving is stronger than ever. Three quarters (73%) of Brits intend to carry out a charitable act during the festive period and a further 76% state they want to find out how they can make a difference this year.

For those people, the good news is that there is an easy, no-cost way for people to make the most of their old tech. With so many unused handsets gathering dust, Three has joined forces with star of Gogglebox and former Queen of the Jungle, Scarlett Moffatt - calling on all of us to dig deep into our drawers this year and donate our old phones. Scarlett and Three aim to receive 10,000 phones between Black Friday and the end of the year.

Scarlett Moffatt said, “In my early 20s whilst studying I worked at my local Three store and what fun we used to have! I’m very pleased to say that this Winter I’m back and chuffed to be partnering with them for a good cause. This year it might feel like it’s going to be tougher to do your bit for charity, but Three’s Reconnected scheme makes it easy to help a real person get back on their feet. Plus, it won’t cost you a penny, just pop into a Three store with your old phone that’s been gathering dust, grab an envelope and Three will do the rest.”

Through Three’s Reconnected programme, donated handsets are received, reset, and revamped with six-months of unlimited data, texts and calls complimentary from Three. These are then distributed amongst charity partners, LetsLocalise, Business in the Community and Good Things Foundation, who gift them to disadvantaged people.

Andrew Foy, Director of New Products and Propositions at Three UK, said, “Our research suggests that there are millions of phones simply gathering dust that could make a real difference to a person’s life. We’re calling on everyone to have a rummage and dig out your old phones - and Black Friday is the perfect excuse to do it. Pop into your local Three store to donate them, whilst checking out our best Black Friday deals.

“By donating just one phone, you’re giving the gift of connectivity this Winter, and that has the power to change lives. So, please dust off and donate those old phones!”

To take part, consumers can come into Three’s 297 Oxford Street store on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th November from 10am-8pm and donate their old phone directly, Scarlett Moffatt will also be there on the Friday to accept phone donations.

For more information, pop into a Three store or visit www.three.co.uk/Black-Friday-deals for Black Friday deals or https://www.three.co.uk/reconnected for Reconnected and phone donations.

-ENDS-

* Source: Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data for Q1–Q2 2022– https://www.speedtest.net/awards/united_kingdom/2022/?award_type=5g&time_period=q1-q2

Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.

About the research:

This research was conducted online by insights agency Perspectus Global. A total of 2004 respondents took part in the study which was weighted to be nationally representative by age, gender and region. Fieldwork started on Friday November 11th and ran until Monday November 14th, 2022. All surveys adhere for the MRS Code of Conduct based on the ESOMAR principles.

About Three’s Reconnected scheme and partners:

• The donation scheme is delivered by Three in partnership with Genuine Solutions, experts in the recovery and distribution of mobile technology, to ensure that any phones donated that are not suitable to be sent to charity partners are either refurbished or recycled, ensuring the most sustainable disposal of old devices.

• Good Things Foundation: The UK’s leading digital inclusion charity, working to fix the digital divide. Good Things Foundation will identify people in need through its network of community partners, including those escaping war and persecution who are seeking refuge in the UK.

• Business in the Community: Working to build a fairer and more sustainable society, phones donated to Business in the Community will go towards people trying to enter employment.

• LetsLocalise: A digital social platform with a network of over 600 schools and 100 businesses, LetsLocalise aims to provide the best educational opportunities to students across the country through innovative features that nurture and sustain community development and engagement. In the last two years, LetsLocalise has already impacted the lives of over 50,000 students, and they are well on their way to fulfilling their mission of empowering a million students.

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