Recycling laptops for those in need
Last year Leidos UK recycled and then donated 200 laptops and peripherals and gave new laptop rucksacks to those in most need during the protracted lockdown, including schools and educational trusts. Research suggests four out of five schools with pupils from low-income families do not have enough devices and internet access and according to recent data published by Ofcom, it is estimated that between 1.14 and 1.78 million children in total in the UK have no home access to a laptop, desktop, or tablet.
Recipients include the following organisations chosen as part of our social value strategy of helping to build a future where our people and technology make a real impact, greatly improving quality of life and promoting inclusive well-being.
- Castle View Academy, Portsmouth
- E.M.P.I.R.E. – Virtual School, Croydon
- Hounslow Professional Development Centre, Hounslow
- Achieving for Children, Richmond
- 50 Laptops to Mercian Education Trust, Dafydd Lawday
- 28 Laptops to Bristol City Council Community Learning
- The Spot, Hounslow
Five volunteers in our service delivery and management organisation worked tirelessly to refurbish the laptops. Since the arrival of the laptops and chargers to their new homes, the team has received glowing feedback about how much of a difference the laptop donations have made:
- “The donations have been very well received at Croydon Council as you may be aware that we have the highest population of children and young people — 96,000 and the highest population of children and young people in care in Greater London. We have still retained a few laptops that are used at our weekly children in care council and care leavers forum where the young people use it to do homework, research, and complete their PowerPoints for Corporate Parenting Panel” - Porsha Robinson, service coordinator, E.M.P.I.R.E. Virtual School
- One student was able to stay in a course because of the gifted laptop, as they couldn’t complete their assignments while the library was closed during the COVID-19 lockdown.
- And an educational trust reported they were able to create a bank of remote learning laptops for students without devices, distribute laptops to their classrooms, and enhance staff training and development.
- “The donation of laptops significantly helped the Trust with its IT provision; particularly in these difficult times of COVID restrictions and remote learning.” Dafydd Lawday, chief executive officer, Mercian Educational Trust
