Social Action Programme Update - The Belfrey is now an IT ReUse Collection Point!
We’re pleased to announce that The Belfrey is now a collection point for the IT ReUse project. IT ReUse collects donations of computers and mobile devices, which they refurbish and then pass on to disadvantaged people in York, free of charge. As well as helping people in need, this gives devices a second life and prevents them going to landfill.
The Need
It’s estimated that 9% of the population of York, approximately 15,000 people, don’t have access to the internet and so are excluded from online services such as education resources, medical appointments, banking, benefits applications, and the online social activities most of us take for granted. This ‘digital divide’ was brought into sharp focus by the pandemic. As a response to this, IT ReUse was formed in July 2020 as a partnership between York Community Furniture Store, City of York Council and Changing Lives. They aim to make a difference by repairing and repurposing donated devices and passing these on to people who have been referred to them by community support workers from various agencies across the city. They can also help with providing a data allowance and linking people up with one to one training to help them get more digitally confident and connected.
How can you help?
IT ReUse are experiencing very high demand for referrals and they need devices to refurbish in order to meet this. You can now drop off your unwanted devices at The Belfrey, either in the collection box at the back of church when the church is open on Sundays or during the week, or at the Parish Centre during office hours.
Here’s some guidance from IT ReUse on what they are looking for:
Mobile devices must be manufactured after 1st Jan 2012. Laptops, desktop PCs and monitors after 1st Jan 2009.
Mobile devices must be donated fully reset (there’s no way to crack the security otherwise).
You may want to factory reset your laptop or PC prior to donation, but if you’re not able to, they will do this and destroy any data stored on it using industry standard software.
Items with cosmetic damage or actual damage are fine to donate (they aim to fix these or recycle them as a last resort if not fixable).
Peripherals including keyboards, mice and webcams are also great to donate, but no printers please.
IT ReUse are also looking for volunteers to help them with the project. Maybe you have skills in IT repair and configuration that you could use in this setting, or you’d like an opportunity to learn or improve? Further information on volunteering with them is here.