Through this campaign, we hope to raise £8,000 so that we can gift a free refurbished laptop to at least 35 young people and families who are living in disadvantaged and vulnerable circumstances and, without having a suitable digital device are unable to connect to the vital services and support that can help make their lives better.
We want to tackle the dilemma of digital exclusion, one device at a time.
Meeting the needs of our community
Through the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis families and individuals have been thrown into digital poverty, and sadly, this is not going to go away any time soon! Without the means to purchase devices to access essential online support services or connect with others around them, many are left socially isolated.
Young people without digital access are at risk of falling behind in education and skills development and are missing out on employment opportunities and vital social connections.
Refugees and asylum seekers looking to start a new life in Edinburgh need help to access the job market, education, finance and property services, and to connect with the new communities around them.
Older generations are being left behind, some without the finances to purchase devices and without the knowledge of how to use them. Many have no way to contact friends and family, access online support, and carry out simple tasks such as food shopping.
Edinburgh Remakery: Helping People and Planet
One of our specialities at the Edinburgh Remakery is tech repair. We create ways for members of the public and businesses alike to pass on their unwanted tech devices instead of throwing them away. These we repair and refurbish, giving them a new lease of life so that they can be used again. We use some of these donated and refurbished devices to gift to people in need, helping to reduce digital inequalities and tackle social isolation across the city.
A right, not a luxury
We believe that digital access should be the right of every person and our Tech Gifting Project ensures that no one is left behind. Can you help us give the gift of connection to 40 people living in social isolation and digital poverty this winter?
It really does make a difference...
Every single penny donated to us will help us reach our target and help more people in need in our City. Below we have outlined what your donations will help us to achieve, giving you an idea of how much the items needed for each gifted piece of equipment will cost.
£5 - is roughly the cost of a mouse which can make using a laptop that much easier and more inclusive
£20 - would pay for a replacement battery for one of the laptops
£50 - would pay for all of the replacement parts needed to repair one of the laptops to be gifted
£175 - would pay for the replacement parts and all the full refurbishment needed on a laptop and mouse to be gifted to a family or individual in need
£350 - would pay for two fully refurbished laptops each with a mouse to help two vulnerable families or people get connected
Who have we helped in the past?
Since 2020 we have gifted over 1,000 devices to people in need. This remains a drop in the ocean of need and with this year's campaign we want to support at least 35 young people and families, and ideally 40 to get a device to be connected.
BUT... we can't do it without the amazing support of people and organisations like you. Will you help?