Good practice Imported

#GiveNTech

United Kingdom · Bristol · Local · See the United Kingdom profile · See the Bristol profile

Evidence: Descriptive / self-reported Top 97% 32/100 · Ask Evidence Copilot about this practice

Cleo Lake has launched #GiveNTech - a tech amnesty where unused IT hardware is donated, wiped of data, cleaned, fixed and given to those who need it. The pilot started in-house at Avon Fire & Rescue, appealing to their 800 plus staff network to donate kit. Should more be needed

800+

Staff network appealed to for donations (Avon Fire & Rescue)

Details

Maturity: Pilot
Promoter: Bristol Green Party — website
Type: Service
Status: Ongoing
Target groups: Elderly people, Marginalised young people and children, Unemployed and those facing social problems
Period: 2020-04-30
Keywords: isolation, older people, equipment, access

Context

COVID-19 lockdowns and the shift to online home-schooling exposed the digital divide in Bristol: children, elderly residents and low-income households risked being left behind once schools, libraries and community clubs closed. Bristol Green Party councillor Cleo Lake, who ran in-person dance classes for elderly residents, saw first-hand how the lack of devices excluded participants from moving online, including for events as significant as remote funerals.

Objectives

The initiative aims to get refurbished devices to isolated elderly residents, low-income families and children lacking home access to school resources during the pandemic.

Activities

#GiveNTech is a tech amnesty in which unused IT hardware is donated, data-wiped, cleaned, repaired and redistributed to people who need it. The pilot began in-house at Avon Fire & Rescue, appealing to its 800-plus staff network for donations, with plans to appeal to the wider public if more devices are needed; Avon Fire & Rescue, Bristol Waste and Bristol Computer Reuse support the refurbishment and redistribution chain.

Implementation

Indicative cost: Low (< €50k)
Time to results: Short (< 1 year)
Staffing & skills: Cleo Lake (Bristol Green Party councillor, initiator), Avon Fire & Rescue (host organisation and staff donor network), Bristol Waste and Bristol Computer Reuse (data-wiping and refurbishment partners)

Conditions for success

Starting the appeal in-house (800+ staff network) before opening to the public kept the pilot manageable
Partnership with a computer-reuse organisation ensured devices were properly wiped and refurbished before redistribution

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