The Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) has teamed up with the Royal Borough Kensington and Chelsea to launch a scheme to collect old technology that can be redistributed to underprivileged families in the local community.
Data from the borough estimate that over 12,000 residents in Kensington and Chelsea are digitally excluded, representing eight per cent of the community. Digital exclusion rates also vary significantly across the borough, with those living around Latimer Road and the World’s End estate more frequently unable to access essential digital services such as education, healthcare or seeking employment.
The scheme calls on local residents, workers and businesses with old technology such as laptops and mobile phones to donate them at hubs including libraries and community spaces. The DPA will then refurbish them and distribute them to families to provide secondary school children with devices for online learning and support older people with phones and tablets. The DPA will also give out free SIM cards from Vodafone’s everyone.connected scheme alongside the devices for those who don’t have connectivity at home.
The drop off points are:
· Kensington Central Library (12 Phillimore Walk, London W8 7RX): Mon-Tue & Thu 9:30am-8pm, Wed 10am-5pm, Fri-Sat 9:30am-5pm, Sun closed.
· Chelsea Library (Chelsea Old Town Hall, King’s Rd, London SW3 5EZ): Mon-Tue & Thu 9:30am-8pm, Wed 10am-5pm, Fri-Sat 9:30am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm. North
· Kensington Library (108 Ladbroke Grove, London W11 1PZ): Mon-Tue & Thu 9:30am-8pm, Wed 10am-5pm, Fri-Sat 9:30am-5pm, Sun closed.
· Baseline (LancWest, Whitchurch Rd, London W11 4AT): Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm.
· The Clement James Centre (95 Sirdar Rd, London W11 4EQ): Mon-Fri 9am-5:30pm.
· Dalgarno Trust (Dalgarno Way, London W10 5LE): Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.
Shaun Condon, who works in the Digital Inclusion team at RBKC, “This morning we launched a new initiative for individuals in RBKC to donate their smartphones, tablets and laptops to be refurbished and repurposed for community use. This will impact the lives of many in the local community and go towards bridging the digital divide, ensuring everyone has access to the digital world. We encourage everyone to consider donating any unused devices to support these great causes.”
“One in five children across the UK don’t have access to a device they can use for homework, and this issue is heightened in different local authorities throughout the country,” said Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance. “We are thrilled to be working with the local council on this scheme to refurbish and redistribute tech to young people in the community of Kensington and Chelsea. Tackling digital exclusion must be a collective effort, so we encourage those in the area to clear out and donate any old laptops and devices, and help our mission to make digital accessible for all. A device that you’ve stopped using can be transformational for a child who needs a laptop to access homework and study for exams.”
The aim of the scheme is to collect over 100 devices for redistribution. Once that number of devices has been donated, the DPA and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council will open applications for families to request a device.
