Here at Honeycomb Group, we're a hive of social-minded brands working with the community's needs in mind.

That's why we couldn't be more grateful when local and national businesses and organisations get involved and help increase support in our local communities. 

Last month, Vodafone and The Community Foundation for Staffordshire provided Concrete, our homelessness support charity, with 50 mobile phones and SIM cards. 

The Community Foundation donated 50 mobile phones through their Discover Digital Innovation Programme which works to improve digital inclusion across Stoke-on-Trent. The aim is to better connect communities and improve the lives of local people. Alongside this, Vodafone donated SIM cards pre-loaded with 20GB data, unlimited calls and texts. 

The phones and data will help Concrete customers stay in touch with their support workers, friends and family. It will also enable them to access online services. 

Dean Marsh, Service Manager at Concrete pictured above, said: “We’re so grateful to The Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Vodafone for their generous donations of mobile phones and SIM cards.

“Many of us take having a mobile phone for granted. We pick it up and don’t even think about how lucky we are to have one, but they mean so much to the people that we support.

“Having access to a mobile phone means that our customers are always connected. They can stay in contact with friends and family and easily get in touch with their support workers and other essential services.

“This all helps them on their journey to independent living and a concrete future.”

Ben Hilton, Operations Officer at The Community Foundation for Staffordshire, said: “The Discover Digital Innovation Programme is a collaboration of partners who want to raise the bar of digital inclusion across Stoke-on-Trent.

“We are proud to support local community organisations, such as Concrete, in recognition of the vital work they are doing within our communities.

“It is shocking to see how serious the issue of digital inclusion has become in modern society. We hope that by working together we’ll be able to bring about change to improve the lives of local people.”