Coronavirus: BT offers up iconic phone boxes in Peterborough to community groups during pandemic

Communities across the country have been thinking innovatively to transform red phone boxes for good, from community food stores to illuminating the red kiosks blue as a tribute to the NHS. Already, more than 6,000 phone boxes have been adopted by communities since BT set up its ‘Adopt a Kiosk’ scheme in 2008.

More than 300 traditional red boxes are currently available for adoption in the East of England, for just £1 each, and BT will also consider adoption requests to house defibrillators in more modern boxes.

BT has phone booths in Wisbech Road in Thorney, Maxey Road in Helpston, Church Walk in Upton and North Street in Stilton.

The phone Box in Upton has been lit up in blue to pay tribute to the NHS.

Sam Burton from Upton Community Council said: “We recently adopted a BT red phone box and have been working with the Community Heartbeat Trust to get a defibrillator installed for our local community.

“I came up with the idea to light up the phone box in blue for the NHS after seeing local people lighting up their houses. The blue lit phone box is a tribute of thanks to the NHS from our village.”

The Driven Forward Charity in Windsor has turned a phone box into a donation point for items for the local foodbank during the coronavirus pandemic.