Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a question for us?

Read below to see if your question has already been answered, and if we’ve not covered it yet, head to Contact Us or email info@wiltshiredigitaldrive.org with your query, we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

Are you still accepting donations?

Yes!

We’re still accepting donations of Laptops, Tablets or PC’s primarily, but you can email us if you want to check if you can donate anything else.

What should I include in my donation?

If you’re donating a laptop, we’ll need its charger cable as well.

For PC donations, if you can also provide the keyboard, mouse, and monitor, this would be greatly appreciated!

For tablet or smartphone donations, a charging cable is appreciated, and cases are also useful if you no longer need them!

Will you take my device?

If you’re thinking of donating a device, but it is not a Laptop, Tablet or PC, please email us at info@wiltshiredigitaldrive.org with specific details, and a member of our team will get back to you to confirm if we’re able to accept the device or not.

My device is old or damaged, will you still accept it?

We work with our recycling partner to ensure that any devices that cannot be refurbished are instead recycled, so if your item cannot be reused, then we’ll ensure that none of it reaches landfill for you!

If I donate my device, will my data be secure?

We wipe all laptops and PCs we receive, regardless of whether we’ll refurbish or recycle them.

For tablets, we ask that you factory reset these before sending them to us.

We will check to ensure your data is wiped from your device before it is redistributed, no matter what.

How secure is your wiping process?

We wipe all laptops and PC’s to HMG Infosec Standard 5 Enhanced but can wipe to a number of other standards as required. This is the same level of security that the government uses!

Can I get a certificate to confirm data destruction?

We offer this service for free to corporate donors who are giving 20 or more devices to WDD, as long as it is requested in advance of the donation being made.

For individual donations, the information on a certificate will likely be unnecessary so we do not offer this service, however you can always email us if you had any questions about the process!

If I change my mind, can I get my donated device(s) back?

We regrettably cannot guarantee the return of donated devices, but if you need to reclaim your device, please get in touch with us and we will do our best to help you to do this.

If you can tell us the make, model and colour of your device then this will give us a better chance of locating it. We will also be able to use the serial number of the device if you know it.

Where should I take my device(s) to donate them?

We have a list of Donation Stations – companies around the county who have agreed to accept donated devices and look after them until we’re able to collect them.

This list can be found on our Donation Stations page here.

I don’t have a device to donate, how else can I help?

If you want to help us in ways outside of donating a device, we have a GoFundMe page where you can make monetary donations.

If you have other ideas of how you can help us – email us at info@wiltshiredigitaldrive.org with your suggestions!

Can I apply for a device for myself?

We are unable to accept applications from individuals looking to use a device themselves, instead we would need one of the following organisations to make an application on your behalf:

  • School
  • Pre-School / Nursery
  • College
  • Local, Town or Parish Council
  • Charity
  • Voluntary Organisation

Can I apply for a device on behalf of another person?

If you work at one of the following organisations, you can make an application on behalf of another person:

  • School
  • Pre-School / Nursery
  • College
  • Local, Town or Parish Council
  • Charity
  • Voluntary Organisation

I’ve already applied and received devices in the past, can I apply for more?

Yes!

There is no limit to the number of applications you can make, so even if you’ve had devices from us in the past, we can supply more if you need them.

Can I apply for a specific brand of device?

Unfortunately, as we work with refurbished donations, we aren’t able to be picky, so we may not have the exact make and model that you are looking for.

Devices are given on a first-come first-serve basis, so we aren’t currently able to cater for specific requests.

Where can I collect my device from?

Devices can be collected from our office in Melksham by appointment only:

Wiltshire Digital Drive

Office 13

Hampton Park West

Melskham

SN12 6LH

Collections MUST have been agreed upon before your arrival, and we ask for at least 48 hours notice ahead of a collection taking place.

I’m not able to make the journey to collect from you – do you offer delivery?

In some cases, we are able to offer delivery but this is limited by the availability of our volunteer driver, and we currently cannot promise specific dates & times for deliveries.

Do I need to bring anything with me to a collection?

We do not formally check ID during collections, however if your organisation provides you with identification or a branded lanyard etc then please bring this along. We like to share photos taken from collections across our social media, so please bear this in mind when collecting from us!

Can my colleague collect on my behalf?

This is absolutely fine! We ask that you let us know in advance of the collection if it will be yourself or a colleague collecting from us so that we know who to give the devices to on the day of collection.

I can’t make it to my collection anymore – what should I do?

Not to worry, these things happen sometimes!

If you are unable to make it to a collection, this is no problem, just send us an email or call on 01225 636005 to say you cannot make it anymore, and we will work with you to reschedule for another time.

There is a problem with my device – what do I do to fix it?

If your device is not working, please contact us on 01225 636005, or email info@wiltshiredigitaldrive.org and we will work to repair or replace any faulty device or troubleshoot any problems you are having with your device.

My laptop won’t hold charge unless it’s plugged in, what do I do?

As we work with donated devices, some may suffer from degraded or depleted batteries, which means that the time you can use the laptop whilst disconnected from the power supply may be shorter than expected, or in some cases the device may switch off immediately on disconnection. We don’t reject laptops with degraded batteries as in many cases, they still work perfectly when plugged in and can be used to great benefit this way, but if this is causing a problem for you, please get in touch at info@wiltshiredigitaldrive.org and we’ll work to find a solution for you.

Often, a replacement battery can be purchased for a small cost from the manufacturer of the device, so this may be a low cost way to extend the battery life of an older laptop.

My laptop &/or power supply is getting very hot whilst in use, what should I do?

If your laptop is getting warm to touch and causing concern, please get in touch with us as soon as possible and we will help diagnose and resolve the issue. This can occasionally be caused by build-up of dust in the fan of the devices, so regular cleaning may help prevent the issue. If the device or power supply becomes hot to touch, avoid using them and let us know so we can be able to offer a resolution as soon as possible.

My device is damaged – can I swap this for a new one?

If your device has been physically damaged or broken, please contact us on 01225 636005, or email info@wiltshiredigitaldrive.org and we will work to repair or replace any broken device as soon as possible to minimise interruptions.

My device has been lost – what do I do?

If your device has been lost, please email info@wiltshiredigitaldrive.org with the details and we will work with you to replace any lost device and discuss individual cases.

My device is no longer being used, how can I return it?

If your devices are no longer in use, please email info@wiltshiredigitaldrive.org and we will be able to arrange for them to be collected or delivered either directly to Priority IT, or to another of our Donation Stations.

I’m moving away from Wiltshire, can I take my device with me?

If you – or the individual who is using the devices – is moving away from Wiltshire, we ask that you let us know so we can update our records to reflect this. We will then be able to provide more information on a case-by-case basis.

I’m leaving my organisation – do I need to return all the devices I’ve applied for?

If you are leaving your position, you will not need to collect and return all of the devices you’ve applied for.

We would appreciate where possible if you could let us know of this, as well as providing the contact details of a new point of contact who will be looking after the devices after you have left.