University of Suffolk vice-chancellor welcomes fee rise but warns of funding gap

Why it matters: The donated devices will enable vulnerable people to contact support services, emergency services and family members when their own phones have been broken or confiscated by perpetrators.

The phones will be distributed to Leeway, Catch-22, and Mountain Healthcare support services across five counties – Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Some devices will come with free SIM cards and mobile data from the National Databank, which was founded by Virgin Media O2 and the digital inclusion charity Good Things Foundation. The National Databank is described as "like a food bank but for free data, texts and calls, helping to connect people in need."

The background: The donation comes as part of Virgin Media O2 Business's social value commitment through a recent police contract with 7F Commercial Services.

7F Commercial Services uses collaborative buying power for seven police forces in the eastern region, including Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Kent, to obtain better value for money from their contracts.

What they're saying: Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore, said: "Supporting victims is a key responsibility for me as Police and Crime Commissioner. We commission many services to support victims to help them cope with the immediate impact of crime, and, as far as possible, recover from the effects.

"I absolutely support this 'social benefits' approach. Funding is always tight and anything we can do to work with the commercial sector to access additional funding to support this work gets my full support.

"I know from speaking to victims just how devastating it is to be denied something as basic as the ability to talk to family and friends. I hope these phones provide a useful lifeline for victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault to feel more secure and less isolated."

Charlotte Hails, Head of Public Sector Vertical Strategy at Virgin Media O2 Business, said: "As a former senior police officer who specialised in Safeguarding and Public Protection, I know first-hand that mobile phones and connectivity are critical to ensuring victims and survivors are not isolated and can receive support.

"By partnering with local organisations in East Anglia, Virgin Media O2 Business is helping ensure victims and survivors receive the smartphones and data they need. This builds on our commitment to support police forces and communities across the UK to improve public safety and reduce crime."

The bottom line: The initiative aims to reduce isolation among victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault by providing them with secure means of communication through donated mobile devices.