The Big Laptop Giveaway March 2021

A number of good quality laptops are available free of charge to the voluntary and community sector.

“Over the last year the VCS Alliance has been working with IT Schools for Africa (ITSA) to support the VCS get access to quality ICT equipment and reduce the digital divide. We know that working from home and changing methods of delivering services has had a significant impact on the sector, ITSA have been at the forefront of reducing that impact by providing equipment quickly, efficiently and at no cost to the sector. During the pandemic they have been brilliant, rising to the challenge of supporting the sector during this difficult time and helping our charities keep the show on the road. I am delighted that a small number of good quality laptops are now available free of charge for the voluntary and community sector in our county”. Matt Lennard, Chief Officer at the VCS Alliance.

Since 2018 IT Schools for Africa, through its Tech Connect Community Programme, has enabled 14,000 learners access to support with digital skills and supported over 80 local charity and community based organisations through donations of refurbished IT equipment.

Covid-19 and lockdown has highlighted the need for technology and has really shown how painful digital poverty is and how divisive it is across communities. “11.7 million (22%) of people in the UK are without the digital skills needed for everyday life online. Digital skills can be a lifeline for people and are even more likely to be at this moment in time”. (Lloyds Bank Consumer Digital Index, May 2020)

Who the Tech Connect Community Programme has helped

  • Children of school age who have no access to computers to do their online learning.
  • Job seekers – assistance with online job search, CV writing, universal credit benefits
  • Elderly people who need to learn digital skills
  • Refugee groups
  • Isolated and disadvantaged local residents

What’s available

A number of good quality laptops are available free of charge to the voluntary and community sector. The laptops are of a good standard and IT Schools for Africa have run checks on them to ensure they are fit for purpose. The laptops will be supplied with Windows 10 OS and Libre Office. Some refurbished desktops may also be available.

Please do not apply if you were successful in the last giveaway in December, to enable equipment to be distributed to more organisations.

You will be notified if your application is successful, and you will be able to collect the equipment from IT Schools Africa in Cheltenham.