Connecting Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative managed by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. Find out more
Help your recipients stay connected to the internet
After your recipients' free MiFi data ends, you can help keep people connected by letting them know how to:
- take advantage of a Vodafone SIM offer - 40GB of data free for 6 months
- apply for a 6 month extension to their free Connecting Scotland data
- find out more about low cost options for getting online
You can also join Digital Champion training sessions if you want to learn more about supporting your MiFi recipients to connect to the internet.
If you have any questions, you can get help by contacting our free helpline: 0800 0 590 690, between 10am - 4pm, Monday - Friday, or by emailing: help@connecting.scot.
Vodafone offer
Vodafone, our supplier of MiFi dongles, are offering anyone whose Connecting Scotland MiFi data is ending 40GB of free data per month for 6 months. This offer includes free unlimited texts and calls.
You can apply for SIMs for your recipients through your unique form link. This should already have been emailed to you, or another contact in your organisation. If you did not get your unique form link, or need it to be sent again, contact us at: help@connecting.scot.
You can apply for SIMs now for people whose data is about to end - this includes Phase 1, Phase 3 and Fast Track users, as well as recipients who were given Connecting Scotland MiFi dongles through 2020 pilot schemes.
You will be able to get SIMs for Phase 2 recipients when their data ends in late 2023/early 2024. We'll write to you with a reminder of Phase 2 end dates closer to the time.
How is the Vodafone SIM activated?
The SIM will be activated when it is put into a device. This could be a MiFi dongle, a tablet or a phone. Once the SIM is activated it will start to work. There are no other steps to complete.
After the 6 month offer ends
After 6 months, recipients can keep using their Vodafone SIM and switch to a pay-as-you-go plan for £5 per month. The £5 per month offer includes 7GB of data per month and unlimited texts and calls. Users will need to opt in to use this service.
People should use their Vodafone SIM in a mobile phone, as they'll be sent texts to let them know how much of their free data they've used. They can also use their SIM in a dongle, but they will not be sent any text updates about how much data they've used.
If 40GB of free data per month is not enough
Social broadband tariffs are available to people who can afford them and need more than 40GB data per month.
Emergency extensions from Connecting Scotland
In cases of critical need, some recipients may need more support to stay online in the short term.
To help support people in hardship, we can extend the use of free MiFi dongles for 6 months.
To get an extension, people must:
- not be able to afford their own connection
- rely solely on their Connecting Scotland MiFi for connectivity and need it to meet a critical need
You can apply for extensions for your recipients through your unique form link. If you do not have your unique form link, or need it to be sent again, contact us at: help@connecting.scot.
Getting the Vodafone SIM offer and the Connecting Scotland extension
It may be possible for some people to get both a Connecting Scotland MiFi dongle extension and a Vodafone SIM offer if their 6 month extension ends before the end of 2024. We will write to you again about this offer.
Getting free Vodafone SIMs for people who are not part of Connecting Scotland
You can apply for SIMs for people who are not part of Connecting Scotland through Vodafone's ‘charities.connected’ programme.
Low cost options for getting online
Broadband and mobile social tariffs are cheaper than standard broadband packages. They may be better for people than the free Vodafone SIM offer if they use more than 40GB of data per month.
People can get a broadband or mobile social tariff if they're paid Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support.
Ofcom have full details about social tariffs in the UK.
Free internet connections
People may be able to use a computer and get online for free somewhere close to them. Both digital inclusion hubs and public libraries can give people free access to the internet. Find out more about digital inclusion hubs from the Online Centres Network. People can find their nearest public library on mygov.scot.