Old phones given a new purpose for children with type 1 diabetes
Monday 29 June 2026
We have donated 529 mobile phones to help children and young people with type 1 diabetes access continuous glucose monitoring technology.
The phones, which were handed over to Protech City Ltd in May, will be refurbished for use by families across North East England and North Cumbria. The donation is expected to provide enough stock to support newly diagnosed children for up to 18 months.
The initiative was led by Phil Harrison, of our ICT team, who began looking for a way to put retired work mobiles to good use. As part of our approach to cyber security, we upgrade mobile phones every few years, creating a regular need to securely wipe and recycle old devices.
The team contacted the diabetes team at James Cook University Hospital, which put them in touch with Jenny Foster, Network Manager for the Children and Young People’s North East and North Cumbria Diabetes Network.
The network has been working in partnership with Protech City Ltd, a corporate technology recycling company based in Peterlee, to source old devices, refurbish them and make them available to children who have recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The project is delivered by Jenny in partnership with the fantastic team at the Type 1 Kidz patient and parent support group based in Durham.
Continuous glucose monitors, known as CGMs, are used by many people with type 1 diabetes to monitor blood glucose levels. The devices are worn on the body and send readings to a connected mobile phone, allowing children and their parents or carers to receive alerts if blood glucose levels become too high or too low.
For families of newly diagnosed children, the need for a suitable mobile phone can come at a difficult and stressful time, particularly when a child is still in hospital and parents or carers are adapting quickly to new routines and technology.
Before the phones could be donated, our ICT team spent six months ensuring every device was fully wiped, logged and cleared of SIM cards or removable storage.
Phil Harrison, ICT Service Desk Advisor at Beyond Housing, said:
“This was a practical way for us to make sure these phones could go on to have a real purpose after they were no longer needed by Beyond Housing.
Every device had to be processed properly and securely, but the team was determined to do it because we knew the difference these phones could make to children and families at a very difficult point in their lives.
It is brilliant to know that these devices will now help young people across the region access technology which can support them in managing their diabetes.”
Ian Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of Protech City Ltd said:
“Protech has proudly supported Jenny and the team at the Young People’s North East and North Cumbria Diabetes Network for many years.
During that time, we have seen first-hand the positive difference that donations like this can make to the lives of young people and their families.
Supporting such an important cause is something we are incredibly passionate about, and we are proud to continue contributing to the fantastic work the team delivers.”
Jenny Foster, Network Manager for the Children and Young People’s North East and North Cumbria Diabetes Network said:
“We are delighted by Beyond Housing’s generous donation. Having delivered this project over the past four years, ongoing support like this is vital. This contribution enables us to continue our partnership with Protech, ensuring all devices are safely certified for onward use, while helping us reach more families across the region who might otherwise struggle to access essential diabetes technology. The diabetes community across the North East and North Cumbria is extremely grateful for this support.”
