Liverpool City Region donates hundreds of unused PCs, laptops and monitors to digitally excluded people

LIVERPOOL City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram's Combined Authority has given hundreds of retired desktop computers, laptops and monitors to a charity scheme for digitally excluded people.

It is the 1st authority outside London to sign up to the National Device Bank; a recycling network run by the Good Things Foundation which has already helped more than 126 people across the City Region with free equipment.

More than 200 devices have been donated and will now be professionally refurbished before being distributed to those in need.

The partnership is the latest in a campaign to boost digital connectivity and support, following the launch, in 2023, of the Digital Inclusion Initiative which aims to provide 4,750 tablets as well as training and mobile internet to residents.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Portfolio Holder for Digital and Innovation and Leader of Wirral Council Cllr Paul Stuart said:- "Digital exclusion is a key barrier for many in the City Region, with hundreds of thousands of individuals struggling to get online due to a lack of access to affordable devices, connectivity or digital skills. Schemes such as the National Devicebank are critical to ensuring our residents are able to gain access to devices to help them navigate the modern digital world; whether booking an NHS appointment, contacting their friends and family, or saving up to £900 a year through better deals. I encourage all businesses to examine what they can do with their old ICT kit, and consider donating to the Devicebank"

The Good Things Foundation operates the Device Bank as well as the National Databank; which is often described as a food bank but for mobile data.

More than 60 centres in the City Region are registered Databanks, including the Combined Authority (CA).

The CA has already provided over 35,000 gigabytes of free data alongside retired phones to 300 participants on our Households into Work and Housing 1st programmes.

The charity also coordinates the National Digital Inclusion Network, including thousands of organisations providing free local support for people to use and access the internet with 140 active Digital Inclusion Hubs in the Liverpool City Region.

So far, 5 of these hubs have received 126 refurbished devices across the Liverpool City Region, but demand for free IT equipment is 5 times higher than the current supply.

The foundation is encouraging more hubs to apply and hopes the City Region example will help popularise the initiative and boost donations amongst businesses and enterprise.

Helen Milner OBE, Group Chief Executive Officer, Good Things Foundation, said:- "We're thrilled that the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has donated to the National Device Bank, becoming the 1st Local Authority outside of London to donate. The National Device Bank is our free alternative solution to IT asset disposal that tackles corporate e-waste and gets refurbished devices into the hands of people that can't afford their own. With 1 in 14 UK households with no access to the internet at home, we need to act now to ensure people aren't locked out of the online world. This donation not only prevents valuable tech from ending up in landfill but also places it directly into the hands of those who need it most. I urge other organisations to follow Liverpool City Region's lead and donate to the National Device Bank, helping people and the planet."

To find out more about the Combined Authority's work on this issue, join the Digital Inclusion Network at:- HelpingYouOnline.Co.UK.

Damien Moore MP welcomes £150,000 Government investment into The Atkinson and Waterside Lodge

 

LOCAL Member of Parliament, Damien Moore, welcomes the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announcement of a £150,000 Youth Investment Fund (YIF), with funds being provided to the:- Atkinson and Sefton North District Scouts Waterside Lodge. The YIF fund will be used to upgrade and refurbish educative and sporting facilities to support recreational opportunities and accessibility across Southport.

On 3 February 2024, DCMS announced the 3rd tranche of YIF funding, which will provide over £90 million to rebuild or refurbish 140 projects across the country.

The Youth Investment Fund represents a £300,000 fund for rebuilding or renovating up to 300 youth facilities over the next 2 years, with the aim of supporting an additional 45,000 young people per year to access youth facilities.

The objective of YIF is to create, expand, and improve local youth facilities and their services, with the aim of driving positive outcomes for young people, including improved mental and physical wellbeing, and skills for life and work.

DCMS's YIF funding will provide £125,793.00 to The Atkinson to refurbish their educative facilities, enabling 40 additional pupils per year. £25,200.00 will also be provided to:- Sefton North District Scouts Waterside Lodge, to renovate and expand facilities for an additional 8 attendees annually.

Commenting, Local Member of Parliament for Southport, Damien Moore, said:- "The Government has a strong record on raising skills and literacy across the UK, with fluency, literature, and numeracy increasing dramatically under Conservative stewardship. I remain steadfast in fulfilling our ambitious commitment to achieving the 90% Schooling compliance in providing; and exceeding, expected reading, writing, and mathematical standards by 2030. I welcome DCMS' complementary Stage 3 YIF investment into Southport's Atkinson and Waterside Lodge; continuing and reinforcing my longstanding campaign to improve Children's educational and healthcare services across Southport."