Digissentials

by Tech-Takeback in Shoreham By Sea, England, United Kingdom

Digissentials
Not quite
Unfortunately this project was not successful.

We aim to provide at least 100 families or vulnerable people with a “Digissentials refurbished tech, access and electricals Support Package”

by Tech-Takeback in Shoreham By Sea, England, United Kingdom

Tech-Takeback and Citizens Online (Digital Brighton & Hove) are working in partnership, combining their individual areas of expertise to create a collaborative digital inclusion support package for individuals known as “Digissentials”.

Digissentials aims to provide at least 100 families or vulnerable people with a “Digissentials Support Package” that would include a combined total of up to 200 refurbished devices (laptops, tablets, TVs, small kitchen electricals etc), a 12 month data connectivity package, alongside Digital Champion support over a 12 month period.

Our target of crowdfunding £2,500 is to support 10 families in Brighton & Hove immediately, with our wider aim to support 100 families in Sussex and to do that we would need to raise £25,000.

This project has been devised to effectively support the most vulnerable people in the community by combining the skills of Tech-Takeback and Citizens Online/Digital Brighton & Hove. This exciting partnership enables us to bridge the digital divide in an environmentally sustainable manner, with increased social impact across the generations.

Digissentials will:

  • Provide further sustainable management of unwanted electrical items - activities for which we have been nominated for the Tech4Good Sustainability Award.
  • Reduce the number of people without access to technology that enables them to get online.
  • Reduce instances of data poverty through the provision of data to provide connectivity.
  • Improve people’s digital skills and confidence through support from trained Digital Champions.

Digissentials is a multipurpose project that tackles the urgent societal challenges of digital exclusion and data poverty while addressing a critical need for sustainable, circular solutions that promote a zero-to-landfill waste policy, combining the Green Circular Agenda with Digital and Social Inclusion. The Digissentials project enables the benefits of the internet, digital technologies and responsible waste management to be available to everyone. 

Every week, Digital Brighton & Hove is contacted by individuals and support organisations who have identified individuals that have no way of accessing the internet. People are often experiencing numerous life challenges and without access, people may also experience high levels of social isolation. With so many essential services and communication now in the digital world, having no access to the internet has a significant impact on health, social connection, finance, and life experiences for people.  

Tech-Takeback collects unwanted tech (including phones, tablets, laptops or PCs) from residents and business and other small electricals collected from residents as part of the RevaluElectricals collection service. The Tech-Takeback data-erasure and refurbishment experts then securely data erase digital devices and refurbish to meet the individual needs of the recipient. This equipment is redistributed to those that have been identified to be digitally excluded by Digital Brighton & Hove. Along with the donation of the technology, will be the provision of data where needed for access to the internet, and wraparound digital support.

When a device is donated to someone, it is only useful if the recipient has the connectivity, and support to develop confidence and knowledge to use it. Trained experienced Digital Champions from Citizens Online and Digital Brighton & Hove will provide essential person-centred support to help to overcome these barriers to ensure that the benefit of the device prepared by Tech-Takeback can be maximised for the recipient. 

“We do need this kind of help right now. People think it is a big mountain, but with my Digital Champion it is not.” - Feedback from individual on their experience of the Digital Champion support they received.

We know from the work we have been able to do so far how much of a difference it makes to people but there are many people still in need of this support to get online and connect.

"I just want to say a huge thank you for dropping off the laptop. It is such a life saver. I managed last night to do an online food shop and speak with my son on messenger. I can't tell you how great it is to be in touch with the world again. I am so grateful to Tech-Takeback and Digital Brighton & Hove.”

“I am so grateful to you all for the laptop. It’s been the best thing that has happened for quite a long time actually. I think it’s an amazing thing you are doing.” - Feedback from individuals support by Tech-Takeback and Digital Brighton & Hove.

About Tech-Takeback - 

Tech-Takeback (TTB) is a not-for-profit company, operating to a circular economy model, established to change the way consumers think about technology and small electrical items by extending the usable life of the device itself or, where possible of its components if the device has come to the end of its life prior to responsible recycling.  Other mission values include providing community benefit through donation of the refurbished items to those in need by TTB’s charity partners and employing apprentices through the Kickstart and the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton Intern schemes. 

TTB has developed in partnership with The ZeroNet and Brighton & Hove City Council, a small electricals collection service called RevaluElectricals. Once collected from householders or businesses, all data-bearing tech is securely data erased.  Data security is key to reassuring residents and businesses that it is safe to donate their data-bearing tech for reuse. TTB is supplying refurbished tech to Digital Brighton & Hove’s clients.

About Citizens Online/Digital Brighton & Hove - 

Digital Brighton & Hove (DBH) is a cross-sector partnership, delivered by national charity Citizens Online, bringing together over 350 organisations working to create a more digitally confident city. The project has been working in the city for 5 years, is well reputed and working even harder to reach underrepresented groups during the pandemic and alleviate digital exclusion amongst the citizens of Brighton and Hove.

Got an idea like this?

Over £200 million has been raised from our crowd to support the projects they love! Plus tens of millions more unlocked by our partners.