So much of what we do today relies on having access to technology. Children’s education, people’s work, and now even access to public services almost always relies on having some access to IT. The covid-19 pandemic has shown us just how difficult it is for low-income families and isolated members of our society to access this vital resource.

This problem will not simply go away when the pandemic is over and it has revealed a stark problem that the most vulnerable in our society have been struggling with for years.

Too many are on the wrong side of the digital divide and a scheme, ‘Laptops4learners’ has been working across Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire to help people bridge the IT gap.

The Laptops4learners campaign is asking local residents and businesses to donate their unwanted technology to the scheme. A specialist recycling company, Blackmore Ricotech, through their recently established CIC, DonateIT, will collect all the equipment received. DonateIT immediately clean and wipe each device of all data and then recycle or refurbish them ready to be donated back into the community for those most in need.

Cllr Sarah Dyke who is spearheading the Laptops4Learners campaign said: “I believe everyone should have equal access to our society, but there are still far too many without access to the IT devices they need to study or connect with others.” She added, “Since February 2021, Laptops4learners has collected over 600 unwanted items of IT and I am delighted that we have recently donated our 125th device. It’s such an amazing achievement, but there is so much more to do. Many people reading this article may have received new IT devices for Christmas so I am asking that they donate any unwanted laptops, computers and other electronic items to our scheme to help someone in need.”

People or organisations wishing to support the campaign or donate old IT hardware should contact Simon Barfoot by email donateIT@r3cycle.co.uk