Community Computers call for greener approach to tackling digital divide

Community Computers, part of Stockport’s DigiKnow network, are calling for businesses to go green, reduce their carbon footprint and commit to increasing their social value to reduce the digital divide in Stockport by donating their tech to help residents to get online during Get Online Week (17th-23rd October).

Community Computers provides professional IT asset management for both private and business customers to repair, refurbish and recycle technology that can be used to support those digitally excluded – it is a not-for-profit project delivered by local charity, Renewal North West and exists to tackle digital exclusion, unemployment and e-waste through repairing and refurbishing donated tech.

Working with Stockport Council and the Digiknow network to help get Stockport online, Community Computers offer secure data destruction for all donated devices and use ATA secure erase methods (where supported) with proof of destruction proceeded as a detailed report. Physical destruction of SDD, HDD and other magnetic based media can also be carried out with their data crunch 250 and degausser. The project offers free collections of redundant technology, including laptops, desktop PCs and smartphones and use in-house asset management system to process and track equipment – they can even come on site and destroy data on the spot.

Without technology, 1 in 5 people in Stockport have little or no access to the internet, many of whom are on a low income or unemployed.  It is estimated that 1 in 3 of those digitally excluded lack access to digital equipment.

Chris Bennett, Digital Inclusion Project Manager at Community Computers commented:

“Not being able to get online means people can become more socially isolated and are less likely to access essential support services. There is a real digital divide – the need for low-cost and accessible, quality digital devices is greatest amongst those with limited financial means ”

One resident who has benefitted from the refurbished device scheme said:

“It’s incredibly helpful to have received this laptop. It’s enabled me to complete an online course that otherwise I would have struggled to do. It will enable my older school child to get any computer or online school work done and when I try to return to work later this year when my youngest starts school it will be a big help then as for health reasons I may end up needing to work from home/be computer/internet based which would not be possible without this laptop.”