Call for Stockport businesses to donate laptops and tech equipment

Marketing Stockport are supporting Stockport Council’s DigiKnow Alliance, an initiative working to tackle digital exclusion in Stockport, by asking businesses to donate surplus tech and computer equipment to help in their mission to ensure all pupils have access to a laptop or tablet while they are home-schooling.

Stockport based and MoD accredited IT company Amshire IT Support has teamed up Community Computers, an initiative by Stockport charity Renewal NorthWest, to provide a service for recycling redundant IT kit to those in need across Stockport. Both Microsoft Registered Refurbishers, the two organisations will refurbish donated computer equipment to help people in Stockport who aren’t online or don’t have a suitable device to access the internet. The collaboration has also seen them both join the DigiKnow Alliance, contributing to the digital inclusion programme in Stockport.  

Data security is a high priority; businesses donating equipment can be assured that Amshire and Renewal NW will ensure items are clean of all data prior to ensuring they are serviced and fit for purpose. Both are specialists in recycling tech, processing electronic waste, reducing the levels of e-waste going to landfill and ensuring hazardous materials are properly disposed of.

Dave Taylor, managing director of Cheadle Hulme based Amshire and a parent facing the challenges of home-schooling, believes that everyone should have access to technology, irrespective of their circumstances:

We know some businesses will be worried about data and wiping. We are involved to offer our security and data wipe services. Along with Renewal NW we are proud to be helping where we can. Schools in particular are in need as home learning and lack of kit may inhibit some families to engage and feel connected, especially during the lockdown”

Recycled donations will be dispatched to the DigiKnow Device Library, which provides free loans of devices to Stockport residents who are missing out, including families with children struggling to access live lessons, job seekers and the socially isolated.

Wesley Downs from Community Computers, who provide training and work experience in IT recycling skills for the long-term unemployed at their shop in Shaw Heath, said:

We’re passionate about breaking down barriers – Community Computers operates to tackle long term unemployment and digital exclusion, and we’re incredibly excited to have joined forces with SMBC, the Digiknow Alliance and Stockport Digital Device Library to enable more access to digital devices in Stockport. The success of our work, however, relies on sufficient IT donations – all of which are dealt with by our professional and secure asset management service.”

Cllr Kate Butler, Cabinet Member for Citizen Focus and Engagement says:

I’d like to thank these two organisations for their help getting these initiatives off the ground. These are exciting schemes that will help more Stockport residents to get online, whilst also offering so many other benefits to the wider community and the environment.

“Stockport Council will be donating computer equipment that we no longer use, but the schemes won’t succeed without donations from businesses and individuals across Stockport. If you’ve got computer equipment you no longer use, please donate it so we can help as many people as possible access the internet and ensure no-one gets left behind.  We really think these initiatives deserve all our support.”

If you can spare any technology you no longer use, please drop off donations at any open Stockport library, at Renewal NorthWest’s shop in Shaw Heath or by contacting Amshire on 0330 2020 340 to organise a collection.

If businesses have bulk donations of old tech that you particularly want to be used to support children to access education, you can donate it to Amshire IT Support, who will ensure the refurbished devices are made available specifically for families with school-age children, via the DigiKnow Device Library.

Groups and businesses can also arrange for a bulk collection of items by contacting Renewal NorthWest on 0161 476 2777 or via their website. They take most IT equipment as well as other office items.

The Community Computers scheme and the DigiKnow Device library support anyone in the borough, of any age, who needs support to get online.

The DigiKnow Alliance is managed by Stockport Council and delivered by Starting Point Community Learning Partnership, working with partners from all sectors. Further information can be found online at the Digital Stockport website.