Christmas came early for young people at a Trafford youth centre – thanks to Trafford Council and housing association L&Q.
Representatives from the Council and L&Q visited Partington Youth Centre to present delighted youngsters with ten new laptop computers just in time for Christmas.
The donation by L&Q supports Trafford Council’s digital inclusion policy and means the youth centre will now be able to launch a coding club with the help of Trafford Council. The laptops are refurbished by the Stockport-based charity Renewal North West as part of their wider 'Community Computers' initiative.
The laptops will also help youngsters with homework, revision sessions, tech learning and e-safety and be an access point for families that haven’t got such resources.
The youth centre, on Moss Lane in Partington, has 200 members and they will all now be able to use the computers when they need them in a special tech suite within the building.
Jo Johnson, Operations Director at Partington Youth Centre, said: “We would really like to thank Trafford Council and L&Q for this generous donation which will give members access to their own computer when they need one. This will enable us to relaunch our coding club and help the young people gain more confidence with computers.
“It all fits in with our charitable objectives of raising aspirations to young people and giving young people opportunities that they wouldn’t usually have. Thank you so much.”
Danny Sutherland, Workplace Technologies Analyst at L&Q, said: "By donating some of the L&Q devices we can make a huge difference to the lives of those that need it most, whether that’s for educational purposes, or just to help someone get online that would otherwise struggle. This is an integral part of our on-going investment into the lives of young people in our communities.”
Trafford Council is signed up to the Local Digital Declaration in a commitment to make service delivery more efficient and make digital access easier for residents. The Council has also set up a laptop lending scheme – which includes tablets - at its libraries to enable people who do not have their own devices to get online.
Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, said: “Thank you so much to L&Q for providing these laptops and to Trafford Council for helping distribute them. It is so important that people of all ages are given access to online.
“I am delighted that these devices have been donated to the youth centre – it means young people will be able to use them for a variety of reasons and will help improve their digital skills. Nobody should be left behind with regards to access to digital.”
Adrian Nottingham, Business Development Manager at Renewal North West, added: "Fixing the digital divide is the mission of Community Computers. Seeing the huge difference it makes to be able to supply a good device to under-resourced individuals, families, and communities is what motivates us to keep going. We are so pleased to be partnering with L&Q who lead the way in maximising their social and environmental impact by donating their redundant IT devices to Community Computers.”
Posted on Tuesday 19th December 2023