Our Digital Inclusion Alliance, was established to help digitally excluded residents in Stockport to gain digital skills and confidence. It’s a unique alliance of partners from all sectors, who help to shape, support and promote the ‘DigiKnow’ movement in Stockport. Since we came together in 2018 we’ve already helped over 9,000 residents to get online and develop their digital confidence and we now have around 40 partners from all sectors.
We’re now delighted to welcome a Stockport recycling charity to the alliance, who will make low-cost refurbished computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones available for low income households in Stockport who don’t have access to the internet. Community Computers, an initiative by Stockport charity Renewal Northwest, will also use recycled donated computer equipment to maintain the DigiKnow Device Library.
This library, which was established as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, provides free loans of devices, and data where needed, to households in Stockport who have no or limited access to the internet. It has already loaned over 120 devices, helping residents to stay in contact with family, do schoolwork, look for work, manage Universal Credit and improve their wellbeing.
Please donate your old tech to the scheme
Stockport Council will be donating computer equipment that we no longer use to the initiative, but to make the scheme work and last, we really need donations from businesses and individuals across Stockport.
It’s really easy to donate – groups or businesses can arrange for a bulk collection of items, or individual donations can be dropped off at any open library in Stockport or at Renewal Northwest’s shop in Shaw Heath. They take most tech including working TFT monitors, desktop computers, laptops, networking peripherals (such as switches, patch panels, cabinets, power supplies), servers, iPhones, iPads, smartphones, tablets, laser printers, scanners, cameras, as well as office furniture and equipment. Data security is a high priority for the charity and all equipment will have data erased in line with US Department of Defence standards for free. Visit their website for further information.
This scheme will support anyone in the borough who needs digital support. If businesses specifically want to support children to access education, they can also donate their tech to local tech support firm, Amshire IT Support, who will provide data wipe services for free, and reburbish devices for specific use by families with school-age children. Please contact Amshire directly to donate.
Community Computers provide training and work experience in IT recycling skills for the long-term unemployed, as well as reducing the levels of e-waste going to landfill and ensuring hazardous materials are properly disposed of. With benefits to businesses, benefits to the community and benefits to the environment, we really think this initiative deserves our support.
Help getting online
If you know someone who needs help to get online, our DigiKnow Helpline 07537 127095 is the number to call for free telephone support from community Digital Champions, face to face or online group classes with other learners from Stockport, to borrow a device and data from the Digital Device Library or for information on purchasing lower cost refurbished devices.
Read the next article about DigiKnow.
Great scheme. Do you take old external hard drives?
Community Computers can take them to be destroyed. They will be physically crushed and recycled as scrap metal.