Donate IT
Donate IT was a digital inclusion scheme that recycled donated laptops and tablets, redistributing them to people in Stoke-on-Trent who lacked access to technology.
This collaborative project was created to tackle digital exclusion by ensuring that people across the city have access to the devices they need to participate in modern life.
As everyday services increasingly moved online, from education and employment to healthcare and social connection, having access to a digital device was no longer a luxury, but a necessity. Donate IT worked with local partners to collect unwanted laptops and tablets, refurbish them where needed, and redistribute them to individuals who would benefit most.
The scheme supported people to get online for a range of essential activities, including completing coursework, applying for jobs, accessing services, and staying connected with others. It also played an important role in reducing isolation, enabling people to maintain relationships and engage with their communities in a digital world.
Delivered in partnership with organisations including the Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Donate IT demonstrated the power of collaboration in addressing exclusions and inequality and supporting those most in need.
By repurposing unused technology, the project not only supported individuals but also promoted sustainability and community responsibility.
The Donate IT scheme has concluded but VAST is still helping to tackle digital exclusion across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire with Reboot-IT, a community interest company “bridging the digital divide for a connected community one device at a time.”