Wiltshire locals are being asked to donate their old laptops, PCs & mobile phones in the new year, as part of the 2nd annual #DonateYourDigital Day.
Taking place just after Christmas on Friday, January 6th 2023, DonateYourDigital Day was created by Wiltshire Digital Drive (WDD). It encourages people to donate any tech they have replaced over the festive period such as laptops, tablets and desktop computers, to reduce the amount of technology that goes to landfill.
Once donated, those devices will be refurbished and handed back out to schools, organisations, and charities free of charge. Helping bridge the digital divide in Wiltshire and the surrounding counties.
Natalie Sherman, co-director at Wiltshire Digital Drive, said: “We were so excited to launch our own awareness day in 2022 and received 1,000 donated devices in just one day! So many people receive new laptops and tablets for Christmas or treat themselves during the Black Friday or Boxing Day sales, now is the perfect time to let us reuse your old tech. By giving it to us, not only will the device help another member of our community, but it will also stop it from going to landfill.”
“The figures speak for themselves. In just one year we’ve given more than 1,000 school children, families and organisations a laptop or computer, imagine how many more we could help after this new plea. And it’s not just members of the public that can get involved; we’re also asking businesses who are looking at upgrading their IT to consider donating their old tech to us.”
Local businesses across Wiltshire will be opening their doors to act as drop-off points for the donated items.
Donations can be taken to any of the following during their open hours, which are listed on their own, as well as WDD’s website:
- Citroen & Ford Dealerships, Trowbridge
- Priority IT, Westbury
- Islington Vauxhall, Chippenham
- The Bank House, Calne
- Naturally Social, Corsham
- Aster Housing, Devizes
- Hearing & Mobility Store, Marlborough/Swindon/Wroughton
- Household Waste & Recycling Centre, Swindon
- Castle Sundborn, Malmesbury
- Godolphin School, Salisbury
- Turner & Partners, Bath
Anyone wishing to help who doesn’t have a device to give can instead donate to the non-profit’s GoFundMe page. A £30 donation will cover all the parts needed to refurbish one laptop. https://gofund.me/d4863da9
Please visit www.wiltshiredigitaldrive.org for information on how to apply and where you can donate.
The CIC ensures every piece of technology donated is tested and securely wiped. If a machine isn’t feasible to upgrade, they will remove all reusable parts and recycle the rest, so nothing goes to waste.
