Donate tech to help get more Wiltshire residents online
Your old laptop or tablet could make a real difference to those in need
Last updated 5th Jan 2022
A new awareness day is being launched in Wiltshire, aimed at getting more people online and reducing the amount of technology that goes to waste.
Taking place on Friday January 7th 2022, Donate Your Digital Day has been created by Wiltshire Digital Drive (WDD).
The organisation is encouraging residents to donate any tech they had replaced over the festive period, including laptops, tablets and desktops. Those devices will then be refurbished and distributed free of charge to schools, organisations and charities.
'Now is the perfect time to let us have your old tech.'
Natalie Sherman, co-director at Wiltshire Digital Drive, said: "With many people receiving new laptops and tablets for Christmas, or having treated themselves in the Black Friday or Boxing Day sales, now is the perfect time to let us have your old tech.
"In just one year we’ve given more than 1,000 school children, families and organisations a laptop or computer. Imagine how many more we could help after this new plea.
"It’s not just members of the public that can get involved; we’re also asking businesses who are looking at upgrading their IT to consider donating their old tech to us".
Local businesses and schools have opened their doors to become drop-off points for the donated items. The sites include:
- Bath: Turner & Partners
- Chippenham: Islington Vauxhall
- Corsham: Naturally Social
- Devizes: Aster Housing
- Marlborough: Hearing & Mobility Store
- Malmesbury: Castle Sundborn
- Swindon: Hearing & Mobility Store
- Swindon: Household Waste & Recycling Centre
- Trowbridge: Islington Motors
- Westbury: Priority IT
- Wroughton: Hearing & Mobility Store
Anyone wishing to help, who doesn’t have a device to give, can donate to WDD's Go Fund Me page. A £30 contribution will cover all the parts needed to refurbish one laptop.
The non-for-profit organisation ensures every piece of technology donated is tested and securely wiped. If a machine isn’t feasible to upgrade, it will remove all reusable parts and recycle the rest, so nothing goes to waste.
You can find out more about the project here.