Council's campaign to tackle digital exclusion is a success

Over the last few weeks, hundreds of residents have received laptops, free data, affordable broadband and digital skills training as part of the digital inclusion campaign, Trafford Tech4All.

The Council and tech-refurb partner Community Computers handed 265 laptops to families in need at pop-up shops attended by over 1,000 residents in Old Trafford, Lostock, Altrincham and Sale. The retired devices, made available by a generous donation from local housing association L&Q, were professionally refurbished before being distributed to those in need at the cut-price cost of £60.

With around a quarter of households in Trafford thought to be experiencing some form of digital exclusion, the initiative aims to bridge the digital divide in the borough.

Committed to driving the campaign for digital inclusion and fight poverty, Trafford Council have collaborated with Virgin Media O2 to double-down on their joint work to tackle digital exclusion, supporting the community with affordable or completely free connectivity. At the Tech4All events, almost 350 free O2 SIM cards with 25GB of monthly data were given to residents via the National Databank, providing free connectivity to residents struggling to stay online. Residents also benefitted from expert advice on social broadband tariffs, discounted packages available to people on eligible benefits.

Through its wider commitment to tackling digital exclusion in the area, the tech giant also helped to create a refreshed IT suite at St John’s Centre, a community hub in Old Trafford, which provides crucial support to those in the area. The new equipment provided will allow the centre to continue to host digital skills training and adult learning courses to residents.

Trafford residents who have benefitted from the scheme include Khesiwe Dube who explained that the laptop will allow her to finish her online training course and apply for jobs. Ms Dube was halfway through a software training course when her last laptop broke and she was struggling to afford to replace it until the Tech4All event at Altrincham Library made access to a heavily discounted laptop possible. Having a working laptop at home will also help Ms Dube’s daughter with her school studies and coursework.

Commenting on the initiative, 49-year-old foster carer, Deborah Myers said: “This is a fabulous scheme and I am so pleased I was able to benefit from it. I gave up my career to be a foster carer and will use my laptop to help me get back into the world of work after being out of the job market for so long due to personal caring commitments.”

The community-centred initiative has demonstrated how businesses and local authorities can work together to tackle digital exclusion and bring about lasting change for residents. Determined to sustain the momentum, the Council is now calling on businesses to join the campaign by donating laptops, tablets and smartphones which will be made available to the most disadvantaged residents in our communities.

Tech4All is Trafford’s innovative and environmentally friendly solution to IT asset disposal. By tackling corporate e-waste and repurposing devices, the initiative ensures that technology reaches those who need it most. By partnering with Community Computers, the Council estimates that 192,010 kilograms of carbon and 3,495 kilograms of landfill have been saved through this campaign.

Cllr Tom Ross, Leader of Trafford Council, said: 

“I would like to say a huge thank you to our partners L&Q, Community Computers and Virgin Media O2 for helping us launch Trafford Tech4All. This initiative is bridging the gap between with suitable access to devices and those without. I would like to take this opportunity to urge other business partners across the borough and across the country to donate devices to this scheme. The need is significant, as we have already seen. We could have provided thousands more devices and still not met the demand. Your contributions can make a real difference.”

If you are interested in giving your ex-business devices a second chance at life and supporting disadvantaged families, contact tech4all@trafford.gov.uk to find out more about how your organisation can donate to the campaign.

Alyson Heald, Partnerships Director at L&Q, said: 

“This is a fantastic initiative which L&Q is proud to be partners of, working towards closing the digital divide within Trafford. Following the impact of the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis, it’s more important than ever that people have equal access to online services and products.”

Dana Haidan, Chief Sustainability Officer at Virgin Media O2, said:“We are immensely proud to be spearheading this life-changing initiative alongside Trafford Council, helping ensure everyone can get online, no matter their circumstances.

“By bridging the digital divide and putting internet access into the hands of those who need it most, we’re creating new opportunities for people to thrive as part of our goal to connect one million digitally excluded individuals by 2025. The continued success of this collaborative project demonstrates how we are working with local authorities and community groups to drive positive change, and we encourage the community to get involved and access the support on offer.”