Hundreds of redundant Isle of Wight Council laptops will be given a new life helping to build digital literacy in some of the world’s poorest communities. The Council has partnered with The Turing Trust, the Edinburgh-based IT and educational charity, which refurbishes old tech to give to rural schools and academic institutions in Africa. So far, the Isle of Wight Council has donated 330 Lenovo computers which will be reconditioned at the Trust’s specialist workshops. After all devices complete a rigorous data destruction process, the Trust loads educational software and then distributes the equipment to schools and charities both in the UK and overseas which would otherwise be unable to afford IT equipment. It is estimated that the Council’s donation will bring computing and IT education to around 5,940 students while the recycling of the equipment will also benefit the environment, offsetting around 92 tonnes of CO2 emissions, which is the equivalent of planting 23 trees. The energy savings created are also enough to power 23 homes for an entire year. Roger Brown, the council’s strategic manager for ICT and digital services, said:
“This is not the first time the council has helped charities by providing them with our old equipment — such as Sight for Wight — but it is the most significant provision by size. “We chose The Turing Trust because of their incredible work to bridge the digital divide in Africa. We were inspired by their mission to provide education and training opportunities to underprivileged communities. “These partnerships ensure the computers we donate will be put to good use and make a real difference in people’s lives. We were also impressed by their focus on sustainability, which ensures that the technology we provide will be functional for as long as possible. “We estimate that another 200 laptops may also be appropriate for handover in the future.”
Councillor Karen Lucioni, the Cabinet lead for ICT, said:
“We are excited to be a part of the positive change that the Turing Trust is creating, and we believe that our donation will have a meaningful impact on the communities they serve. “The demand for refurbished computers is so high that even the hundreds of units we’re donating is a drop in the ocean, so we hope other organisations are encouraged to work with the trust so their redundant equipment can be re-used securely with such lasting and valuable impact.”
The Turing Trust was set up by the family of the late Alan Turing who was famed as a mathematician and computer scientist, and this work on breaking the German Enigma codes in the Second World War. Earlier this year, through the council’s contract with mobile phone provider, HMD Global (Nokia), around 3,250 trees were planted at Kandrany, Madagascar, as part of the company’s ‘Let’s Plant Together’ scheme.
To be fair they probably haven’t had a lot of use, especially on a Friday afternoon
Laptops?
Council staff must have very strong laps!
This is disgraceful. Clearly the huge and never ending immigrants coming here have done so due to finding out how to via their once isolated communities not having access to the various charities, but now discoverable online
Akin to sending them a welcome to Britain for a free house and vast payments for all you can breed.
These computers were paid for by our money and should have stayed for our own , self professed in poverty spongers
Nobody can win with people like you can they? People coming here for a better life is wrong. Trying to give them some equipment (clapped out computers I imagine) and skills so they can earn a living in their own country is wrong. You’re full of criticism with no answers aren’t you?
I assume the council took the time to check with Island families & Island schools to check no one here needed a laptop or computer before sending to Africa ! !
Probably didn’t cross the mind ! !
Great news, we need to help these struggling countries,
Let hope other Councils and businesses do similar.
Well done IW Council
I hope there was also a donation of redundant PC’s to worthy causes on the Isle of Wight as well…anyone from IWC who can confirm?
Well we all know they tead these comments but we also know they are to gutless to reply.
why bother – half of them have shown up here in dinghies and the rest are spending their money on guns/ammuniton booze and contraband as they know the gullible western charities will send them things like computers.
It certainly seems a more taking race has yet to be discovered. The Chinese aren’t always begging for aid despite their numerous population.
This lot always take never give.
Give nothing as now they come straight to the source of aid but in doing so are breeding us into their poverty, overpopulation and the vilest of crimes.
Wait for the influx of “Nigerian Prince” scam emails…
What about the poor people of the Isle of Wight?
I read a report not too long ago citing the “lack of available access to functioning IT equipment” as one factor holding back disadvantaged children and young adults in the UK from achieving at school, higher education and when applying for jobs. But yeah, let’s help the Africans instead.
Surely the headline should read iow council tax payers donate 330 computers to Africa.
Right. From an island where half the kids can’t spell their own names
Council donates 330 computers with island residents personal details, to help online fraud and the scamming of elderly and vulnerable individuals.
You’re welcome.
I’m sure there are plenty of children in this country who would benefit by getting one of these.
So they give them away after tey have been REFURBISHED then we buy our caring council new laptops?.
what wrong with refurbing Them and re use them to save us and the island money?
con after con after con.
Wow does that mean us cash cow’s have paid out for a whopping 330 new computers for our shambolic council ?????
I say YES we ruddy well have…..
Thank you v much u wastrils…..
Thought charity was meant to begin at home?????
Oh yes it does we pay our council tax for you to waste it …….
This all sounds wonderful……until a charger catches fire or someone’s bank is scammed through lack of iT security. Sorry to pee on goodwill but in the age of lefty lawyers, this sort of hollow gesturing is total and utter BS.
Omg. Because we don’t have any poor families in the UK that could do with the help…
We have clean water, many of the poor persons in Africa
sadly don’t.
They need help.
Maybe a bucket would be more use than a computer…
Good to see the council truly represent our community. I don’t think.
council tax up again next year. To pay for this. Feed the World england