We are excited to announce that following demand from the public on social media, BT has unveiled limited edition shirts that will be available to buy to continue the fight against online abuse and help us raise funds.
The limited edition Hope United shirts will be on sale, with all proceeds going to us from Friday 9th July via a link to the BT Shop, which will drop on BT_UK social platforms.
Ahead of the UEFA European Championships, BT launched Hope United, a squad of athletes from across the four Home Nations who came together to unite the nation in tackling online hate. Comprised of male and female players from England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland and drawn together by their own experiences of online hate, Hope United aims to drive more support for change and educate the nation on how to protect themselves as well as to be good digital citizens.
The public will now have the chance to pull on the campaign's recognizable shirts, which have been worn and seen online by football players and notable supporters, including pop star Anne-Marie and radio host Roman Kemp. On Friday, 9th July, a limited number of Hope United shirts will be available at £39.99 each. All of the proceeds will go toward supporting our work.
Everybody at Cybersmile is thrilled to be selected by BT to benefit from sales of the Hope United shirt. BT and Cybersmile share the same goals of an internet where everybody feels free to communicate and express themselves without the fear of bullying, harassment, and abuse.
Scott Freeman, CEO, The Cybersmile Foundation
Football stars including Marcus Rashford, Gareth Bale, Lucy Bronze, Andy Robertson, Jordan Henderson, Ethan Ampadu, Rebecca Sellar, and Demi Stokes are among those to feature in the squad of 20 players managed by Rio Ferdinand and Karen Carney.
It has been fantastic to see the positive response we have had to our campaign against social media abuse, with many people contacting us to ask where they can get a Hope United shirt. As a result, we will be making a limited number of shirts available, with all proceeds being donated to The Cybersmile Foundation. But you'll need to get in fast and watch out for the first drop on social media today and over the coming weeks!
Pete Jeavons, Marketing Communications Director, BT
Squad members have appeared in BT Tech Tips content, free resources helping to give people the digital skills they need to tackle hate online. These cover the following areas:
- Recognizing hate crime: Hate speech is a crime. Cyberbullying runs riot because people don't think the same rules apply online. It's never been more important to know your digital rights and responsibilities.
- Being our best selves online: We've all commented or shared something online that we later wished we hadn't. It's easy to forget that digital actions have lasting, real-world consequences. Learn tips on how to become a better digital citizen.
- Supporting our kids online: Children have spent an unprecedented amount of time online this year, and it hasn't all been positive. Learn new tactics to support them becoming better digital citizens.
- Being a good team player online: Victims of cyberbullying are increasingly suffering in silence. We can't assume people are okay just because they're behind a screen. Let's unite to fight hate by actively checking in on friends. Let's join together and commit to spreading hope.
Thanks to the incredible support and generous contributions from the public, this initiative will help us to provide further help to those affected.