The first major milestone in helping to end digital poverty in the UK has been reached, but more are needed – have you donated yet?
The UK’s biggest agents have collected more than 1,000 laptops to donate to Computer Aid to help end digital poverty in the country.
The number is the first major milestone to be reached following the launch of EG’s industry-wide campaign in March to help provide computer equipment to the more than 1m children in the UK that do not have access to a laptop, desktop or tablet at home.
The issue of digital poverty in the country has been highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic with the forced need to home-school.
CBRE, JLL, Knight Frank, Savills, Colliers International, Allsop, Avison Young, Gerald Eve and others in the sector committed to do their bit to end digital poverty by scouring their offices for unused laptops and asking their employees to do the same at home.
So far, those firms have donated more than 1,000 units to Computer Aid as part of EG’s #REBoot initiative, but more are needed.
Ciaran Bird, divisional president, advisory services UK & Ireland, at CBRE, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many companies and individuals across our industry signing up to #REBoot to end digital poverty. Together, we can help make a positive difference to thousands of children across the UK.”
Hunting high and low
Registered charity Computer Aid needs around 1,000 PCs and laptops per month to be able to equip 40 schools with a digital classroom, so EG is now calling on the wider industry to search its offices and homes for any units it may have that are no longer in use.
“It was an easy decision for Knight Frank to join the #REBoot campaign in support of Computer Aid,” said senior partner Alistair Elliott. “While already committed to finding a good home for surplus IT stock, it is great to be collaborating with others in the industry; this collective effort will help add even greater momentum.
“While there is a mountain to climb, there is no question that this initiative will focus our intentions even more on making sure we do all we can in helping young people with their education.”
Tools for success
As well as donating old laptops, there are other ways to help. At Allsop, the firm has, via the Pat Allsop Trust, secured a £10,000 donation.
Senior partner Scott Tyler said: “We’re extremely proud to be able to invest time and resource in a programme as crucial as this. Ensuring that the next generation is given the necessary tools to succeed has always been a core objective for us at Allsop, and the idea that 9% of children in the UK do not have access to a computer or tablet in 2021 is frankly terrifying.
“Digital poverty is one of the main barriers to ensuring that future talent can thrive in our sector, and we look forward to playing our part in helping to eradicate unnecessary obstacles like this for good.”
How it works
A contract with Computer Aid that allows laptops to be collected, data-wiped, professionally refurbished, allocated and distributed to a school or charity has been drawn up, a standard copy of which can be made available to all companies participating in the #REBoot initiative by Computer Aid upon request.
The scope of the contract covers laptops only and it sets out the donation process for company-owned laptops as well as those that are owned by employees, friends or family members.
For company donations, Computer Aid will provide each company with a unique company code to enable tracking of the laptops. It will arrange for collection of the laptops, asset-track them and provide an impact report at the end of each year summarising the social and environment value created as a result of the donations.
Individual donors are asked to visit the Computer Aid website, where they will need to follow the links to IT Disposal > For Individuals > Data Wiping. They will then be asked to fill in a form to check their device meets minimum criteria for the service. They should enter their unique company code in the field titled “Redeem a Gift Certificate or Coupon” to ensure that the check-out is free of charge and that the donation can be tracked against the #REBoot initiative.
Donations must meet the minimum laptop specification detailed on the Computer Aid website – broadly equivalent to seven years old or less.
To find out more about how to donate and the logistics, contact Keith Sonnet quoting the #REBoot hashtag
