During the pandemic, our need to stay connected remotely increased. But not everyone has an adequate device to access the internet. One poll of teachers revealed that 88% had students they believed were falling behind due to lack of access to online learning. And others are also in need of a functioning device.
Civil society has stepped up. Community groups and local initiatives across the UK ask people to donate their old laptops, computers and other electronic items. They fix and upgrade these devices and distribute them to locals in need, sometimes in partnership with a local small charity. This work is vital.
Where to donate your computer
Here, we list computer reuse projects across the United Kingdom that accept individual donations, for reuse in the local community. The local dimension is important to us, as it ensures that laptops will be delivered fit-for-purpose. And that potential follow-up help exists nearby.
Depending on the project, your own volunteer time and knowledge can make a real difference! Ask a project near you. And many projects are looking for cash donations.
Lastly, if you have time, learn more about thorough data erasure on our Wiki. Projects do this for you, but you can use our Wiki to learn more and verify the process with the group you are donating to.
England
| Location | Name | What to donate | How to donate | Who receives the devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Midlands | ||||
| Buxton (Derbyshire) | The Zink Project | Laptops | Contact Jane at [email protected] or 075079 37554 to arrange a collection or drop off. | People in need of a device to apply for jobs, access training or improve their IT skills |
| High Peak, Derbyshire, Tameside, Greater Manchester | PCrefurb | Computers, Monitors, Phones, Tablets, Printers | Fill in this form | Charities, community groups, individuals in need, students |
| North Nottinghamshire (Bassetlaw) | Worksop Techcyclers | Laptops, tablets, monitors, PCs, cables (USB, HDMI, etc..), USB plugs, laptop chargers, keyboards and mice. Broken devices accepted for repair and refurbishing. | Email [email protected] to arrange a collection. | Local schools or charities supporting families and students without adequate access to technology for remote learning. |
| Nottingham | Nottingham Schools Trust | Laptops | Email to [email protected] | Students |
| West Derbyshire, East Nottinghamshire | Ockbrook and Borrowash Techcycle | Laptops, tablets, e-readers, monitors, computers, mobile phones, cables (USB, HDMI, etc..), USB plugs, laptop chargers, SD cards, Anything related to Raspberry PIs or kids in tech. | Email [email protected] to arrange a drop off. | Donated devices are split between local schools, home without access to technology, local charities or community groups. |
| East of England | ||||
| Aylsham (Norfolk) | Rotary Club of Aylsham | Laptops | Email Mike Downes at [email protected] | Local students in need |
| Cambridgeshire | Cambridge Online | Laptops, Monitors, Mice, Keyboards, Tablets, Smartphones, Smartspeakers | Email [email protected] | People in need |
| Cambridgeshire & Peterborough | Cambs Youth Panel | Laptops | Email to [email protected] | Local students |
| Essex | Every Child Online | Laptops | Email to [email protected] | Local students |
| Luton (Bedfordshire) | Luton Learning Link | Laptops, tablets, desktop PCS Less than 5 years old | Fill in the form at the bottom of this page. | Students |
| St Albans | Computer Friendly St Albans | Laptops, tablets | Email to [email protected] | Local residents |
| London | ||||
| London - Bromley | Rotary Beckenham | Laptops | Email to [email protected] | Local primary schools |
| London - (City-wide pickups) | Little Lives UK | Computer, laptop or PC screen, TV | Children and families in need | |
| London - City-wide pickups and drop-off in Camden | Mer-IT | Laptops, computers | Fill in this form to arrange a collection or drop off. Drop off point at The Fields Beneath by West Kentish Town station. TheFieldsBeneath.com 52a Prince of Wales Road, Kentish Town NW5 3LN | Local residents, giving highest priority to families with several children at and no computer devices in the home. |
| London - City-wide | REFEO (Refugee Education For Equal Employment Opportunities) | Laptops | Contact Mariam Diakite at [email protected] to arrange a donation. | Refugees and asylum seekers |
| London - Hackney | Bridge the Gap | Laptops, Ipads, Tablets, Desktops, Mobile phones, Gaming consoles and Printers | Fill in this form | Local residents |
| London - Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster | Ready Tech Go | Laptops, tablets, dongles | Fill in this form Residents near the Imperial College White City campus can also fill in this form to book a drop off. | Local residents in need referred by another organisation |
| London - Greenwich | Access Support and Resources | Laptops, Tablets | Email to Ivis at [email protected] | Local residents |
| London - Lambeth | Lambeth Tech Aid | Laptops, tablets, desktops, monitors, smartphones, chargers, computer accessories | Fill in this form. | Anyone in need. Distribution via local community organisations. |
| London - Lewisham | Catbytes | Laptops, tablets, desktops, monitors, smartphones, chargers and computer accessories | Contact [email protected] or call 07939288079 to arrange a donation. | Students, families, individuals without digital access |
| London - North | Community Laptops | Laptops | Email to [email protected] | Marginalised communities |
| London - Tower Hamlets | Tech Inclusion UK | Laptops, desktop PCs, tablets, mobile phones and cables | Fill in this form | Students |
| London - Wandsworth | Power to Connect | Laptops, tablets, desktop computers | Fill in this form | Local residents in need |
| London - Wandsworth, Merton and Kingston | Keep Kids Connected (Part of Dons Local Action Group) | Laptops, tablets | Fill in the online form | Local students in need |
| North East | ||||
| Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Country Durham | Donate Digital | Laptops, PC's, Tablets, Charger Cables and Screens | Fill in this form | Young people in need |
| North West | ||||
| Fleetwood (Lancashire) | West Fleetwood Computer Clinic | Laptops, computers | Distribution via local charities | |
| Lancaster & Morecambe | Lancaster and Morecambe Makers | Laptops | Fill in this form | Students |
| Manchester | My Outsourced IT | Laptops, computers | Fill in the donation form on their website | Local schools and low income families |
| Whitworth | Whitworth Men's Shed | Laptops, desktop computers, mobile phones, tablets | Email to [email protected] | Local residents |
| South East | ||||
| Brighton | Tech-Takeback | PCs, Tablets, Laptops, Smartphones, Data Storage (Hard Drives, USBs, Memory Cards etc), Network Devices, Other Tech | Fill in this form or download The ZeroNet mobile app on iOS or Android to request a collection. | People in need. Distributed in partnership with digital inclusion charities including Digital Brighton & Hove and with local reuse charities. |
| Eastbourne | TechResort | Laptops | Fill in form | Local residents in need, students |
| Eastbourne | Tubbs Computer Supplies | Computers, laptops, accessories | Email [email protected] | Local residents in need |
| Epsom, Ewell and Leatherhead | Epsom & Ewell Foodbank | Laptops, tablets | Donations can be dropped off at the Foodbank Resource Centre, Ruxley Lane, Ewell, KT19 0JG | Local school students |
| Hampshire (North East region) | The Lions Club of Fleet | Laptops, computers | Email [email protected] | Students |
| Horley (Surrey) | Level Up Laptop Appeal | Laptops | Students | |
| Kent (East) | Top up to Teach | Laptops, tablets | Fill in the contact form | Local students |
| North Oxfordshire | Thrive Northox | Laptops | Email to [email protected] to arrange collection or drop off. | Local residents |
| Oxford | Oxford IT Bank | Laptops, tablets, desktop PCs | Email [email protected] to arrange collection or drop-off | Local students, refugees and vulnerable people |
| Redhill Reigate Banstead (Surrey) | Level Up | Laptops | [email protected] or 07776 705773 | Students, young people |
| Wantage (Oxfordshire) | The Mix | Laptops | Email [email protected] | Local residents in need |
| South West | ||||
| Cornwall | PL24Reboot | Windows laptops | Fill in the contact form | Local students |
| Crewkerne and surroundings | Merriott Social Club | Laptops, tablets | Drop off in the green bin up the alleyway to left of front door of Merriott Social Club, Lower Street, Merriott or drop off at North Perrott Fruit Farm Shop, North Perriott. | Local schools |
| Bristol | Digilocal | Laptops | Drop off points at several Avon Fire & Rescue stations | Residents in need |
| Plymouth | Borrow don't buy | Digital devices (e.g. laptops) | Contact them via their website. | Local residents in need |
| Wiltshire | Wiltshire Digital Drive | Laptops | Drop off Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm at Priority IT, Unit 4, Mill Lane, Hawke Ridge Business Park, Westbury, BA13 4LD | Local residents |
| Wimborne, Dorset | Wimborne Laptop Share | Laptops | Email to [email protected] | Students in need |
| West Midlands | ||||
| Birmingham | Birmingham Education Partnership | Laptops | Email [email protected] to arrange a drop off or collection | Students |
| Coventry & Warwickshire | The speedy bear | Laptops, tablets, computers | Fill in this form The Speedy Bear offers collection from your door between 10am - 1pm Monday to Saturday or Drop Offs at the following locations 1. Baginton Village - Mon to Sat 2pm - 8pm 2. Finham - 8am - 7pm Mon to Sat 3. Kenilworth - 10am - 4pm 4. Southam - Times TBC 5. Tile Hill - 6pm - 7pm Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri, Sat 6. Leamington Spa (Morrisons Supermarket) - When Open 7. Coundon (Morrisons Supermarket) - When Open | Local schools |
| Shropshire | 8bits1byte | Laptops, tablets, desktop computers | Fill in this form | Local students |
| Stafford | FreeIT | Laptops, tablets, desktop PCs, peripherals | Collection points: Elev8 Highfields, Auden Way ST179TX - 9am to 2pm weekdays Tranquility, Castlefields ST161BQ - 9am to 4pm weekdays Contact FreeIT via [email protected] or 01785 531199 | Local families |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | ||||
| Bradford | Bradford Solidaritech | Laptops, desktops, smartphones, tablets | Fill in this form. | Refugees and asylum seekers |
| Calderdale, Burnley, Rochdale | Techtastic | Laptops | Fill in this form to arrange a collection | Young people without access to online learning |
| Halifax | St Augustines Centre | Laptops, tablets | Fill in the contact form | Local residents |
| Hull & East Yorkshire | Timebank Hull & East Riding | Laptops | Fill in this form. | People in need |
| Leeds | Digital Access West Yorkshire | Laptops, Tablets, Smartphones, Desktops | Fill in the donation form on the website | Students, learners and other digitally excluded people |
| Sheffield | Laptops for Kids | Laptops, tablets, desktop PCs | Fill in the contact form | Young people |
| York | Community Furniture Store | Laptops, tablets, desktop PCs | Drop off at one of their stores | Local residents |
Scotland and Wales
| Location | Name | What to donate | How to donate | Who receives the devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | ||||
| Edinburgh | Edinburgh Remakery | Laptops, tablets, iPads, PCs, smart phones, cables, chargers, and routers | Drop off at 127 Leith Walk from 12-2pm Mondays-Fridays. | |
| Edinburgh and East Lothian | People Know How | Laptops, tablets, desktop computers, monitors, cables, chargers | Email [email protected]owhow.org to arrange a collection. Or drop off at our offices at 525 Ferry Road, EH5 2FF, open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. | people who received a shielding letter, students in home schooling, people on low income and others |
| Glasgow | Glasgow Remade Network | Laptops, computers | Drop off at Repair Stop at The Deep End, Nithsdale Street from Monday to Saturday between 12-2pm. | local residents in need |
| Glasgow | REFEO (Refugee Education For Equal Employment Opportunities) | Laptops | Contact Mariam Diakite at [email protected] to arrange a donation. | Refugees and asylum seekers |
| Highlands of Scotland | Budding Engineers | Laptops, computers | Contact Dave at [email protected] or 07518098944 to arrange a donation. | families and students without digital access |
| Scotland - all regions | Reusing IT | Laptops, computers, tablets | Donations can be collect or dropped off - Unit 9&10 Camps Industrial Estate, East Calder, EH27 8DF | Digitally Excluded Children, Families, Students, Pensioners and Individuals |
| Selkirk, Central Scottish Borders - ON HOLD | The General Store | Laptops, tablets, desktop computers | This project is currently on hold. Message on Facebook to arrange a collection. | Local residents |
| Tayside | Home Computers Support (HCS) | Laptops, computers, tablets | Contact Malcolm at 07450676060 | Students, families and the NHS |
| Wales | ||||
| Cardiff | Re3 | Laptops | Fill in this form to arrange a drop off or collection | Local students |
| Newport | Donate IT Wales | Laptops | Fill in this form | Students |
| North Wales | Wales Recycle IT | Laptops, Computers, Tablets, Monitors, Smartphones, Hard Drives, Network Devices, Other Tech | To arrange a collection please Email [email protected] or Tel: 01248 858371. Or drop off at our warehouse Unit 9 Pen yr Orsedd, Industrial Estate Road, Llangefni, Anglesey. LL77 7AW Monday to Friday 9am-5pm | Local residents in need |
Download the data
You can download a CSV file of the organisations listed here (last update 22nd February 2021). Please attribute to us when you use it. The data is licensed as CC BY-SA 4.0.
Join an emerging Digital Access network
The groups listed above are beginning to network, to share experience and skills, with the push coming from Digital Access West Yorkshire. Join the conversation on Twitter: #DigitalAccess2021 or join a Slack group hosted by London Tech Collective.
Suggest a community computer reuse organisation
If you know of an organisation or project that we have not yet listed, please get in touch with us through the form below. We’re looking for groups that accept individual donations, for reuse in the local community.
Please note that we cannot list schools, organisations or projects unless they have publicly accessible information about their initiative, such as a webpage.
If your school needs computers, please make your request to TechforUK or Business2Schools. If you need help starting your own scheme to receive donations, see Nominet’s Reboot Project.