Council donates 177 laptops to help bridge digital divide
It's part of a Council partnership with Wiltshire Digital Drive
177 old laptops have been donated to a Wiltshire charity by the Council in a bid to help bring people out of digital poverty.
It's part of the local authority's partnership with Wiltshire Digital Drive, an organisation refurbishing and distributing unwanted tech to people who lack online access.
Deputy Council Leader, Cllr Mel Jacob, says it's "almost impossible" to navigate our lives in the modern age without technology.
She said: "We need some kind of device these days, whether you're banking or you're applying for, a green bin or trying to find out any information.
"We recognise that what they're doing using end of life laptops, refurbishing them and getting them to people who haven't got anything is crucial."
Cllr Jacob says its fits the council's aim to ensure people in the county can live their lives effectively and happily, describing the partnership as "fantastic".
She adds that it's something that "makes total sense" considering there is a regular stockpile of devices that reach the end of their life at the council and can be used effectively by people across the county.
"They go off to young people and adults and schools," Cllr Jacob explained. "It's just really important because laptops are expensive. If you haven't got one, you're a bit stuck and you go round in a circle where you can't get one because you haven't got one."
The Deputy Leader said working alongside other organisations is critical for the council to deliver certain services, adding that working with specialist groups, such as Wiltshire Digital Drive, is something the new Liberal Democrat administration is "keen to do".
We can donate our old devices to Wiltshire Digital Drive at one of their donation stations across Wiltshire and Swindon.