Smartphone donations to Motiv8 from Young Manchester

Smartphone donations to Motiv8 from Young Manchester

Motiv8, the Greater Manchester programme to help people overcome barriers and move towards training and work, have received a donation of smartphones through a scheme to help people who are digitally excluded and unable to access vital services or keep in touch with family and friends.

The scheme, piloted in London by Hubbub and now launched in Manchester through Young Manchester, has provided a vital helpline for some of the most vulnerable people across Greater Manchester.

Motiv8 provides support to help some of the most excluded people in Greater Manchester deal with multiple difficulties and get their lives back on track. The programme is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and the European Social Fund as part of the Building Better Opportunities Programme and its wider aims of tackling the root causes of poverty, promoting social inclusion and driving local jobs and growth across the region.

Emma Maher, Motiv8 Team Manager at their ForHousing delivery hub said:

"These smartphone donations will make a huge difference to our clients, who are often digitally excluded in a world that is increasingly online. It means that they can access services, organisations and agencies that until now have been unavailable to them. This really will be a lifesaver for some of the people that we support and we are very grateful to Young Manchester for their donation."

Henry Ngawoofah, Grants Officer at Young Manchester said:

"The smart phones scheme was launched by Hubbub in London to help the millions of people in the UK who are digitally exclued by encouraging people to donate their old smartphones so that they can be re-homed. Young Manchester were asked to pilot it in Manchester and It has been a great success so far - especially with the new challenges brought about through the pandemic. We are delighted that we can help Motiv8, who do a fantastic job supporting individuals in Manchester to get their lives back on track.”

Motiv8 covers the whole of the Greater Manchester area and is led by Jigsaw Homes Group who work in partnership with Bolton at Home, ForHousing, Stockport Homes, and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group. These are five of the housing providers from Manchester Athena, a partnership of social landlords that work together to deliver employment and health programmes across the region

Since the programme went ‘live’ in January 2017, Motiv8 has worked with over 4,200 people to support some of the hardest to reach people in Greater Manchester. Nearly 80% of the people supported by Motiv8 live in the 30% most deprived wards in Greater Manchester and 60% have been unemployed for over 5 years.

To qualify for support from Motiv8 people need to be aged 25 or over, live in Greater Manchester, not be in any training or employment and have the right to live and work in the UK. Referrals can come through agencies and other organisations, but people can also contact the Motiv8 team direct on 0161 331 2048 or email info@manchesterbbo.co.uk. To find out more about Motiv8 visit their website www.motiv8mcr.org