First Community Health and Care have donated 120 laptops to a local appeal which provides refurbished laptops and internet access to disadvantaged children.
The Level Up project run by Raven Housing Trust, with support from Voluntary Action Reigate & Banstead was set up to address the urgent need for IT equipment for some local children to enable them to study at home during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.
The donation comes as the Redhill based community health care provider begins the process of replacing its oldest laptops.
Jon Ford, Head of IT (pictured left) said: “To us the decision to donate the laptops was a win win. We’d normally have to pay to dispose of end of life pieces of kit, but this way the equipment is refurbished and given a new lease of life.
“The fact that laptops which are at the end of their life for our business can instead be given to children in digital poverty, assisting them in maintaining their education both during the pandemic and in the future, is fantastic. Reusing laptops rather than discarding of them is also much better for the environment and I am delighted we are able to support Level Up’s important work in this way.”
Prior to donating the laptops all hard drives are removed and physically destroyed ensuring no data previously contained on them can be recovered.
Horley councillor Martin Saunders, who launched the appeal said, “Donations from businesses and public sector organisations are a crucial enabler for the work that Level Up Reigate and Banstead is doing, and First Community have really delivered with their amazing donation.
“First Community's vision of 'Rejuvenating the wellbeing of our community.' dovetails perfectly into Level Up's vision of a society where no child is left behind by digital exclusion during the pandemic, we're extremely grateful for the support First Community has provided us.”
If you would like to donate a laptop(s) to Level Up, visit https://www.varb.org.uk/level-up/ or email level-up@ravenht.org.uk