Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub reach 260,000 people with e-waste fund

Funding innovation and inclusion

The Time After Time fund awarded grants during two rounds between 2022 and 2025. Winners were chosen by an expert panel, including TV presenter and environmentalist George Clarke, based on their potential to inspire reuse, repair and recycling while tackling digital exclusion. Projects ranged from tech repair training to community device donation drives. Across the UK, recipients have delivered training sessions, community repair events and educational campaigns to reduce e-waste. The results speak for themselves: 8,000 electrical items have been repaired, reused or recycled, 10,000 people have participated in workshops or device donations, and over 60% of donated tech such as tablets and smartphones has been redistributed to those most in need.

Repairing and reusing across the UK

Projects supported by the fund have achieved wide-ranging social and environmental impact. Coventry City Council expanded its #CovConnects digital inclusion programme, increasing device donations from corporate partners and redistributing them via its Device Bank. In rural Cornwall, Treverbyn Community Trust operated a mobile repair service that reached 1,300 people and repaired a wide range of devices, from Apple iPhones to game consoles.

In Wales, Foothold Cymru’s Bright Sparks initiative trained 26 young people as e-waste ambassadors, teaching them to repair devices and champion sustainable behaviour in their communities. In Hull, Giroscope achieved a 200% increase in device donations, creating part-time jobs for neurodivergent volunteers and quadrupling weekly repair sessions. Meanwhile, Power to Connect in Battersea more than doubled its device intake to over 1,300 donations, helping local families gain access to online learning and essential services.

Changing mindsets among young people

Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub have also focused on shifting attitudes toward reuse among younger generations. Their Gen Z-focused events included university hackathons and repair fairs, encouraging students to extend the life of their devices while learning practical repair skills.

Dana Haidan, Chief Sustainability Officer at Virgin Media O2, said the initiative has “changed people’s lives, enriched communities and helped protect the planet” by supporting local organisations to build a more circular, inclusive economy.

Sharing lessons from success

To help others replicate the impact, Virgin Media O2 and Hubbub have released a new report alongside a free webinar. The publication highlights five key areas of learning: raising e-waste awareness, encouraging behaviour change, building repair skills, supporting community repair events and promoting digital inclusion.

Gavin Ellis, Director and Co-Founder of Hubbub, said: “Old devices can transform lives, prevent electricals from becoming waste and build stronger communities. We hope others will be inspired to join this mission.”