It all started with one simple idea and a single social media post that went viral overnight, changing everything for our small charity. Since 2021, we’ve received and refurbished tons of electronics, thousands of items that are now used every day by children across the country.
A Humble Beginning (and a Fast Van)
But let me take you back to the beginning of our Technology Programme. It started as a small initiative to offer a free collection service for electronics alongside our clothes collections in London. I remember our very first collection request was from one of our neighbours, and we turned up with the van so quickly he complained he had no time to move his pictures to his new laptop!
At first, this service grew slowly; we received one or two laptops a week, which we happily refurbished and passed on to local children’s homes.
The Morning We Woke Up to 21,000 Notifications
Then, COVID hit. As kids were forced to learn from home, we heard stories from teachers about students who had no technology at all and were unable to access their studies. We decided to post an update: every donated item would be passed directly to schools so they could distribute them to the children who needed them most. Our intern at the time, Charles, came into work the next morning to find 21,000 notifications. The post had gone viral, and the emails and calls offering technology haven’t stopped since.
Connecting Communities, Classrooms, and Clinics
Through our website, anyone can apply for support to get the technology they need, including computers, laptops, and iPads. We support individuals through schools – helping them equip their classrooms, update outdated hardware, or provide devices to students who don’t have one at home. We also work with council workers to support families in need and provide phones to hospitals for young patients managing conditions like insulin monitoring.
Safe Data, Greener Planet
Our team takes security seriously: we fully refurbish every item and ensure all data is safely removed. Upon request, we can also provide a certificate of deletion (using the US DoD 5220.22-M erase method).
Beyond helping children, our charity is deeply committed to protecting the environment. In just a few years, we have diverted over 150 tons of electronics from landfills.
Help Us Write the Next Chapter
If you’d like to join us on this mission, we’ve made donating easy. You can drop your items off at any of our shops in London or Poole, or book a free electronics collection in the London, Poole, Bournemouth, or Christchurch areas. We now also offer a free postage label for the whole of the UK, so you can simply send your donation by post.
To all the individuals and partners who have helped us along the way: I know it might sound like a cliché, but it’s true – none of this would be possible without you. Thank you.
